San Diego schools and businesses joined a nationwide boycott on Friday in protest of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.

Students walked out of class at multiple San Diego Unified School District schools, according to the district. A handful of businesses said they are donating proceeds from the day to support immigration advocacy groups.

The National Shutdown, endorsed by groups like 50501, which organized the No Kings protests, called for a day of “no work, no school, no shopping” to protest federal agents’ actions in Minneapolis and around the country.

The owner of Verbatim Books, an independent bookstore in North Park, said they planned to donate the proceeds from Friday’s sales to Border Angels, an immigrant advocacy group that supports people navigating the immigration system.

“We chose to support Border Angels,” Verbatim owner Justine Enitsuj said. “We’re donating all of our proceeds today to them. They do really wonderful work here in San Diego and the whole county. And, they’re just really, a model of, like, you know, just like, positive change. That’s really a big part of their mission statement.”

Enitsuj said that while they weren’t closing for the day, the shop wanted to show support in any way they could.

“This is just a small way that I thought it would be, You know, something we could do,” Enitsuj said.

A handful of other businesses in San Diego are also donating a portion of their proceeds from the day to groups that support immigration rights. Good Omen Coffee, Mielimon Bakery, and Rich’s Nightclub all announced their support in some capacity on Instagram.

And the Mingei Museum in Balboa Park was offering free admission on Friday in honor of the general strike, they said in an Instagram post.

Students at Mira Mesa High walked out in protest Friday, along with multiple other San Diego Unified School District schools, according to district spokesperson James Canning.

“Our principals have guidelines for how our schools handle civil activities such as protests to ensure student voices are able to be voiced while being kept safe,” Canning said in an email.

And local organizers are carrying Friday’s momentum into a day of protest on Saturday.

Sarah Barrett in Mira Mesa said their protests have been growing and that the community wants to show support for the people of Minneapolis and for each other.

“And really, to let people in our community know that people care and that, we want to stand up for what’s right and stand up for what our country should be, not what it currently is,” Barrett said.

Barrett invited anybody who wants to support their cause to join them at the corner of Mira Mesa Blvd. and Westview Parkway on Saturday at 11 a.m. It’s one of multiple protests planned around the county.

“Who knows how much impact today will have. But it’s a statement. It gives people a sense of power,” Barrett said. “And I think when people feel a sense of power, change can happen. It’s the feeling powerless is what they want us to feel. And that’s what takes away our voice.”

Protests are happening nationwide this weekend as Americans continue to speak out against the Trump administration and reject the immigration enforcement operations that have killed multiple people in the past two months.

Has winter come to an end?

It’ll feel like it this weekend. San Diego County hasn’t had significant rain in three weeks, and a brief hot spell will arrive on Friday and likely be followed by another one next week, the National Weather Service says.

While much of the nation is digging out from snow, San Diego’s daytime high will be 78 on Friday, 80 on Saturday and 73 on Sunday. The seasonal average is 67.

El Cajon will reach 83 on Friday, 84 on Saturday and 79 on Sunday. The seasonal high is 68.

Once again, a large high-pressure system is blocking storms from the Gulf of Alaska from sliding down the length of the West Coast.

There’s no heavy rain in the forecast through Feb. 9. “That’s not unusual during the winter,” said Adam Roser, a weather service forecaster. “Things could turn wet again.”

The surf will reach 3 to 5 feet at favored spots on Friday and 2 to 4 feet on Saturday and Sunday, producing strong rip currents.

A visit to the USS Midway Museum in downtown San Diego turned into a surprise honor on Thursday for 98-year-old World War II veteran Charles Araiza.

Araiza believed he was finally getting a chance to tour the historic aircraft carrier. Instead, the longtime San Diego resident became the guest of honor during a ceremony on the flight deck, surrounded by family, fellow veterans, and museum visitors.

“Biggest ski boat I’ve ever seen in my life,” Araiza said with a laugh.

The USS Midway drew crowds of schoolchildren and veterans sharing war stories, as well as Araiza’s family, who helped plan the surprise.

“My daughter keeps saying to me, ‘You’re going to be a celebrity,’” Araiza smiled.

Araiza served as a private in the U.S. Army during World War II, deploying to the Pacific Theater with the Army’s 11th Airborne Division. After the war, he helped rebuild Hiroshima following the atomic bombing on Aug. 6, 1945.

During Thursday’s ceremony, retired Navy Capt. Steve Gilmore presented Araiza with an Army of Occupation Medal — nearly 80 years after his service — along with a U.S. flag that had flown over the USS Midway.

“Incredible. I just don’t believe it’s happening,” Araiza said.

Reflecting on his service, Araiza focused on those who never made it home.

“The ones that really deserve the attention are still there,” he said.

After returning from the war, Araiza married and moved to San Diego, where he and his wife spent 52 years together and raised two children. He owned City Auto Tops, an auto upholstery business in City Heights, for more than three decades before selling it and later upholstering small airplanes into his 90s at Montgomery and Gillespie Fields.

Araiza also helped fix upholstery on actor Tom Cruise’s seat on the F-14 used in Top Gun: Maverick, which was filmed in part in San Diego.

Despite a life filled with work and service, Araiza said he never considered himself extraordinary.

“As far as my service, I was just another GI Joe,” he said. “You do what you have to do.”

Araiza is currently receiving care from Sharp HospiceCare. His transportation to the USS Midway Museum was provided by AMR San Diego through its Sentimental Journey program, which offers complimentary ambulance rides to terminally ill patients hoping to visit a meaningful place one last time.

This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC San Diego. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC San Diego journalist edited the article for publication.