Hundreds turned out in southwest Detroit last Thursday as part of nationwide protests of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.
Twenty-two workers at EZ Industrial Solutions, a Macomb County business, elected to join the protest or just stay home rather than show up to work that day.
They were fired.
One of the co-owners confirmed the action off-camera and in a later phone call.
The employees had informed a supervisor last week of their intention to participate in "A Day Without Immigrants."
Company co-owner Paul Yoder says they were then told if they didn't show they would be fired because the company wouldn't be able to meet its delivery deadlines to customers.
The action was also taken against workers at businesses in Oklahoma, South Carolina and Tennessee.
In a statement, the company attorney of Bradley Coatings, said, "All employees were told that they would need to show up for work or they would be terminated."
Eighteen were fired and seven others decided to walk away after learning of the action taken against their fellow workers.
