Boycotts and Strikes 2025-02 and 2025-03

National, civic and community organizations are calling for an escalating series of protests, boycotts, and strikes in February and March to express public concern and outrage about haphazard cuts being made across the federal government, the role of the super-rich and and the consolidation of power in the new Administration. 

As a first step, you are invited to participate in Friday's economic boycott. 

On Friday, February 28, 2025, participants will:

• • Not shop at major corporations (Amazon, Walmart, Target, etc.)
  • Not buy gas, fast food, or other non-essential items.
  • Support local businesses instead.
  • Raise awareness on social media.

Not shopping on Feb 28 may not make "a difference" in terms of the machinations of power stopping or reversing.  We would need more people, more power, and more discipline to do that.  To reach those goals, we need more practice and more collective action opportunities.

But these invitations are important incremental steps. They are capacity-building opportunities for you and me - for the power of the people. You can see them as a time to learn and practice nonviolent discipline and seeing oneself being part of collective action. 

Social activists can measure our effectiveness not just in terms of impact on outcomes (change in federal policy or practice) but also in terms of the power that is built, the unity that is forged. 

You can see these initial steps as a form of spiritual discipline and prayer.  How does withdrawing your consent by stopping purchasing - for a day or a week - serve for your spirit like a fast for your body? 

Some reflection/discussion questions: 

• What might be easy for you about participating in the February 28 boycott? 
• What might be hard about participating? 
• Have you participated in disciplined national collective action before?   What resistance do you dream of participating in? 
• How might we be able to tell when these efforts are starting to become "effective"?

Future Scheduled Capacity-Building Opportunities (Protests) - Mark Your Calendars:

• March 7-14: "Oligarch #1 Protest - Amazon" - No purchasing from Amazon for one week 
• Friday, March 14: National Strike, No Work for 24 Hours - All Workers, All Businesses, All Higher Education Organizations (3/14- 12am-11:59pm local time) 

If you participate in these events, please email us at [email protected] and let us know about it.