Protests Hit Black Friday Nationwide
With all the frenzied crowds taking over in retail stores across the country some have decided on one action; and that is to do nothing.
The catalyst for the Occupy Wall Street movement was the Canadian magazine Adbusters. They have once again been one of the first organizations to make a call for action or lack thereof. This time they aim to close down Black Friday shopping in what they have declared a “Buy Nothing Day.”
This is actually the 20th Buy nothing day yet it is the first one since the “occupy” movement began in New York City which sweep the country and parts of the globe.
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Adbusters wanted to put "the brakes on rabid consumerism." They planned to achieve this through the use of “flash mobs, consumer fasts, mall sit-ins, community events." and other activities that would draw attention to the cause.
"We don’t camp on the sidewalk for a reduced price tag on a flat screen TV or psycho-killer video game," it said. "Instead, we occupy the very paradigm that is fueling our eco, social and political decline.”
But this was not the only black Friday protest organized to take place throughout the country and brought together through social media.
In Seattle, protesters are gathering at Walmart stores to protest with other Occupy groups from around Washington State.
Residents in Washington, D.C., have created a "really, really free market."
On their Facebook page it explains where people can donate items they don't want so others can go gift shopping for free.
According to the Idaho Statesman others plan to hit the mall, but not for shopping. The 75 person encampment in Boise, Idaho, will send "consumer zombies" to wander around in silent protest of what they view as unnecessary spending.
In Chicago, protesters will serenade shoppers with revamped Christmas carols about buying local. The Des Moines, Iowa, group plans flash mobs at three malls in an attempt to get people to think more about what they're buying.
"We didn't want to guilt-trip people at a mall," said Occupy Des Moines organizer Ed Fallon. "We wanted to get at them in a playful, friendly way, to support local businesses."
National Small Business Saturday is Nov. 26.
