On Friday, January 30, as many thousands of Americans took off work and school to protest the killings, street violence and kidnappings by ICE agents in Minneapolis and beyond, small businesses had a choice: Show solidarity with the strikes by closing their doors for the day, or remain open in service to their employees and their communities. It was a choice many business owners struggled mightily with — and one some were criticized for, regardless of which path they chose.
In this episode of the Who Shall Rule podcast, co-host Danny Caine and I talk with ILSR’s own Stacy Mitchell and Lauren Gellatly about how the choices small business owners made on general strike day, and the choices they make running their businesses daily, are ultimately reflections of the wants and needs of the communities they serve. All of us have spent years thinking (and researching, writing, and advocating) about the crucial role small businesses play in our neighborhoods and our economy — Danny is a former small business owner himself. But beyond our jobs, we’re all a part of communities that small businesses make better, richer and more resilient. In our conversation, we reflect on the choices small businesses in our neighborhoods made on strike day, and how, in difficult times, small businesses and the sense of community and place they foster are more crucial than ever.
About our guests:
Stacy Mitchell is Co-Executive Director of ILSR and directs its Independent Business Initiative. Her reports and articles about monopoly power have shaped the thinking of policymakers, journalists, and advocates. As a strategist, she has helped build coalitions and win campaigns for policies that dismantle corporate power, level the playing field for independent businesses, and strengthen communities.
Lauren Gellatly is the Senior Advocacy & Campaigns Manager for ILSR’s Independent Business team where she brings her background in advocacy, economic development, and independent business support. Lauren executes campaign strategies and manages relationships with allied organizations and coalition partners, including a coalition of over 40 independent business groups and alliances — Small Business Rising — advocating for antimonopoly reforms.
