Join the General Strike
This post is coming a little early because I’m calling on you to act tomorrow. February 17th has been chosen for a general strike. The linked article gives a little information on the purpose of strikes and some examples of their success. In a nutshell, strikes demonstrate the economic power of a group of protesters. They show what happens to society when a group of people refuse to offer their services. Strikes are a way of drawing attention to causes and displaying power.
Not everyone is able to participate in strikes, for lots of reasons. Hourly workers may not be able to spare the day of income. Teachers may feel it’s more important to go to work and support their students. Health care professionals may feel the same about their patients. But there are lots of ways to support a strike, and I encourage you to do some today:
* Stay home from work or school (if possible). Call in sick or work with your supervisor to take time off. This is the main action of the strike.
* Decline to buy anything. This is another way of demonstrating the economic power of protesters. If you can’t skip work or school it’s a great way to still participate.
* Use your lunch break or off time to call your representatives, post on social media, or otherwise support the strike.
* Attend a rally or demonstration in your home town. This article lists some activities across the country. The general strike website also offers a search tool for events. You can participate in these events even if you’re not skipping work.
* Support other protesters. Even if you can’t join this particular action, try to support your fellow protesters. Be patient with increased traffic or closed businesses. Tip well if you go out. Donate money to important causes. If you are skipping work or school, be mindful of those who don’t have that option. Support their decisions. We are in this together.
