Brooklyn Pizzeria To ICE Officials: Have A Heart

GREENPOINT, BROOKLYN — A Brooklyn pizzeria has a message for Americans separating families at the Mexican border: Have a heart.

Vinnie’s Pizzeria, a two-store institution that has been serving up slices in Brooklyn since 1960, will sell heart-decorated pizza all day Thursday and send the money to charities helping separated families on the border, owners announced.

“Help us to fight the good fight and spread kindness and compassion all while enjoying delicious pizza,” Vinnie’s announced on Instagram. “The proceeds will be donated to charity organizations currently dealing with the cruel and inhumane separation of children from their parents.”

A post shared by Vinnie's Pizzeria (@vinniesbrooklyn) on Jun 20, 2018 at 12:28pm PDT

Vinnie's is responding to a controversy that has rocked the nation since news first broke that more than 2,300 children have been torn away from parents at the U.S. border.

Critics have said this zero-tolerance policy — meant to deter immigrants from seeking asylum in the United States — is needlessly cruel and that the trauma of separation could have long-lasting effects on children.

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that would reportedly allow parents and children to be detained together, but it is not yet clear if and when that order will go into effect.

Which is why Vinnie's Pizzeria is raising money to send to the Texas Civil Rights Project, the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project, Catholic Charities of Rio Grande Valley and Kids in Need of Defense, organizations that provide legal representation and social services to immigrant families in need.

Vinnie’s Instagram followers were quick to show their support, even before the shops opened Thursday morning.

“Love this and wish I was closer to Brooklyn so I could order all the pizza!!!” emilyconklin wrote. “Thank you for what you are doing.”

“This post is everything right now,” added abbadabba911.

Vinnie’s concluded its message with some hashtags.

“#familiesbelongtogether#keepfamiliestogether #vinniesbrooklyn#love #pizza #family #williamsburg#greenpoint”

You can find Vinnie's at 148 Bedford Ave. in Williamsburg and 253 Nassau Ave. in Greenpoint. Both stores are open from 11 a.m. to midnight.

Photo courtesy of GoogleMaps/2017