Mississippi pizzeria praised for offering free pizza to immigrants and refugees: 'You are valued here'

Megan Johnson
Dodo Pizza, a Mississippi pizza restaurant, is offering free pizza to immigrants and refugees. (Photo: Dodo Pizza/Facebook)
Dodo Pizza, a Mississippi pizza restaurant, is offering free pizza to immigrants and refugees. (Photo: Dodo Pizza/Facebook)

A Mississippi pizzeria is offering free pizza to immigrants and refugees in the wake of several Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across the state.

Dodo Pizza in Oxford, Miss. posted on Facebook on Thursday that while they recognize immigration laws, they believe it’s more important to “remain humans,” and that’s why they made the offer to the community.

“Humans don't separate kids from their parents unless kids are in danger because of their parents. If a kid comes home from school to locked doors and has to be picked up by their neighbors and driven to a local gym while crying — something went terrible wrong there,” the restaurant management wrote. “We support immigration laws, but we don't support cruelty!”

They added that through Aug. 18, they will be giving away a free medium pizza to all immigrants and refugees of the Oxford community.

”Immigrants and refugees are part of our community,” they wrote. “We won't require any proof of your country of origin, we just want to show some love and say that you are valued here.”

Many people praised the endeavor, adding how much they appreciated the restaurant’s generosity.

“Thank you for setting such a great example,” while others lauded their “compassion.”

Still, some Facebook users snapped back with comments.

“When was the last time you posted free pizza for the homeless people in your community?” one Facebook user replied. “When did you have free pizza for our veterans? Looking through your post. Never! But that wouldn't be a political statement, now would it?”

The restaurant replied that if you further explore their page, you’ll find that they actually frequently give away pizzas to people in need, and even gave away free pizzas for a month to government employees during the shutdown. They’re also currently giving away free pizzas to teachers and first responders at another location of their restaurant, and make several charitable contributions to local schools and scholarships.

“Don’t be so quick to jump to conclusions,” the restaurant responded.

Mississippi has come into the limelight after U.S. immigration officials said 680 people were arrested by ICE agents at seven chicken processing plants across the state last week. The raids proved to be one of the largest workplace sting operations in at least a decade, the Associated Press reported.

One of the largest chicken processing plants that was involved in the raid, Illinois-based Koch Foods, hosted a job fair on Monday.

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