Houston Restaurants Take Stand For Immigrants

Twenty-seven restaurants and bars are participating in "Dining for Democracy." Since March 8, they have been offering special dishes or drinks and donated 15 percent of the proceeds from those to the American Civil Liberties Union.

The idea was conceived by Benjy Mason, director of operations at Treadsack, which operates five bars and restaurants in the Heights, as a response to President Donald Trump's first travel ban.

"The diversity of dining options in this city is something that is built on immigration and people coming from all over the world," he told News 88.7.

Mason said he usually doesn't mix business with politics but felt that enough was enough and it was time to take a stand.

So how has it been perceived by diners?

"I had one angry person call and yell at my hostess," he said. "And other than that I think the vast majority of the people have either just not, it hasn't registered, or a lot of people have come in specifically and said, thank you so much for doing this."

The initiative ends on Wednesday. Mason said he will then reach out to the other restaurants to see how much they raised.