Perhaps fearing that the Women’s Marchers were getting all the glory, anti-Trump activists have announced a second general strike for protesters of all genders to take part in.
This strike is supposed to take place February 17, and requires that all participants stay home from school or take the day off work, and refrain from either earning or spending money anywhere in the United States for 24 hours.
Instead, organizers say that activists should dedicate their time to “service,” including attending one of a number of rallies.
It is not entirely clear if the strikers have considered that owning, operating or working at a business could be a service. It’s also not clear how angering business owners, who do not, themselves, have the power to alter the President’s agenda, will serve a greater interest.
Anyway, the “general strike” is being done in concert with “Strike 4 Democracy” and “Occupy the System,” neither of which are clear on the stated goals of their advocacy. The website for the strike on the 17th lists two demands, which are also pretty vague:
On Facebook, the strike has more specific demands, many of which may not be entirely palatable to anyone other than hardcore progressive activists.
And the group has given itself only eight days to prepare for widespread civil disobedience of some form, which is ambitious. The Women’s March was successful because it had almost six months to plan, organize and execute a mass protest. One week is cutting it a little close.
This is entirely separate from the “Day Without Women” event, which is scheduled for early March.