Come join us as we support the Walmart Walkouts around the country. Find locations of protest actions near you, or better yet, make some disturbance theater of your own! Carry some signage, pass some information, make some noise with noise-makers, pass pamphlets. Pirate the in-store PA system and discuss healthcare benefits, create a flash mob in Aisle 13. Set up a bell and a bucket out front but accept no money. Test ride bikes in the store. Fill some carts and be slow and stupid in the aisles. Stand outside and sing labor songs, grab a megaphone and tell the world how you feel about the shrinking middle class, or the 6 Walton family members who hold more wealth than 41.5 million Americans, or that Walmart Chairman Rob Walton makes more in 5 minutes than the average Walmart employee makes in a year.
When they yell at you, "If you don't like these jobs, then get another one!" tell them - politely, of course, that the best way to support the middle class is to lift people up in to the middle class. When they tell you to shop somewhere else, remind them that Walmarts often take care of that by eliminating local retailers, and that for every $100 spent at a local retailer, more than $42 goes back into the local economy, while only $14 goes back via a national retail chain. When they call you a union thug, or a Leftie, then proudly smile and give them the thumbs up. Be polite, be thoughtful, and have fun.
We in the
Overpass Light Brigade have been collaborating and organizing with other brigades that have cropped up around the country. This has been an exciting development in the last number of months, as the movement is growing at a surprising pace!
OLB-Portland went out last night with a Burma Shave style message on the freeway.
OLB-San Diego is ready to roll tonight with brand new letters made.
OLB-Massachusetts is working on a "shop local" campaign, and a new group in Florida,
OLB-Tampa, is ready to go.
Send us, via our
Facebook site, photos of your actions, or you can upload them on a tumblr site called
Document the Strike. Note that their "Take part" link offers information on how to join pre-existing plans. The
Corporate Action Network has a list of some city actions, and the OUR Walmart has a great toolkit
here.
If you need inspiration, check out the posters and prints at Artists vs. Walmart.
(photo courtesy Overpass Light Brigade - Portland)
Our friends at OLB-Austin announced this on their Facebook page:
On Thanksgiving night, Walmart will open its doors early for its "Black Friday" sale. We'll be there to show our support for striking Walmart workers, and those who wish for better treatment. The Walmart we've chosen may have protesters from other organizations, as well, including Walmart workers. We'll also be there to encourage people to forego crass consumerism this year, and instead choose homemade, locally made, or gifts from local vendors.
That sounds pretty good to me. Buy local when you can. Organize. Be visible. Make noise. Appreciate workers. Talk to neighbors. We can turn the dismal tide of this country, but we all have to be willing to sing arias over pirated PA systems now and then.
Walkout on Walmart from Occupy Riverwest on Vimeo.