I think the most telling thing about this event locally is whom we see did not participate in this shut down. One of the largest and most succesful local restaurant groups completely run by Latin immigrants, Olé, chose to keep their businesses open yesterday. I think this reflects greatly the feelings of those immigrants here legally trying to improve their lives towards their illegal counterparts. Before anyone gets crazy, there is a huge difference between illegal aliens and legally documented foreign born residents taking advantage of the programs offered to immigrants in opposite fashions.
I also have to agree with a few other posters, the people that needed to see this are so far removed from those businesses that closed that they barely batted an eyelash about the above listed businesses. The only people affected by those closings were the owners who chose to close and their employees who lost a day of pay. I'm excited to see how this national strike day plays out going forward.