‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Pauses Production for One Day as Crew Joins National Shutdown Protest

Production on Grey's Anatomy was paused on Friday after crew members said they would take part in a nationwide protest calling for a halt to work, school, and shopping.

The one-day shutdown followed calls from student groups linked to the University of Minnesota, which promoted a “National Shutdown” to oppose actions by U.S. immigration authorities. The show’s producers said filming would resume Saturday. The series is produced by Shondaland.

Organizers of the protest said the action was meant to pressure the administration of Donald Trump to end an immigration enforcement crackdown, particularly in the Twin Cities area. The protest calls for a day of “no school, no work, and no shopping” to protest what organizers describe as the “reign of terror” by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

On their website, organizers said recent deaths involving federal agents had sparked widespread outrage. They claimed video evidence shows people were killed while protesting deportations and said federal authorities have been unfairly labeling protesters as terrorists. The website also accused immigration agents of entering communities, detaining residents, and spreading fear.

The shutdown call spread widely on social media and was shared by activists, politicians, and celebrities, including Hannah Einbinder, Ariana Grande, and Pedro Pascal.

Organizers said protests were planned at about 250 locations across 46 states on Friday, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. The demonstrations are expected to continue Saturday with an “ICE Out of Everywhere National Day of Action” organized by 50501.

According to The American Prospect, at least 32 people died in ICE custody in 2025. The report said the deaths occurred during a period of intensified immigration enforcement and marked the agency’s deadliest year in two decades.