Call to action: We just have to stand up
Standing up includes no work or school on September 11, 2007. It also includes “no shopping;” a suspension of all purchasing during the strike. One strike web site claims that this can have a substantial impact even with just a small percentage of the population participating.
The general strike calls for participants to “Hit the Streets.” Significant activity is expected to focus on New York and Washington, DC but, in the viral spirit, the venues of protest can’t be predicted.
General Strikes in the United States
The Seattle general strike of 1919 is the first known city-wide general strike in U.S. history. Failing to get promised wage increases, 35,000 ship yard workers were joined by 25,000 other Seattle union members for a 6 day work stoppage. The 60,000 workers and their families represented a huge portion of Seattle’s 315,000 populations at the time.
The most recent U.S. general strike occurred on May 1, 2006 when millions of Latinos hit the streets across the country. The Latino population once, known as the sleeping giant of American politics, awoke that day in a national effort that shocked and awed the U.S. political elite. Millions protested proposed immigration laws that would made a felon out of anyone claimed to have assisted undocumented workers and broader social justice issues. The May Day demonstrations, in effect a general strike, were preceded by a series of protests beginning in March 2006.
This is the type of coalition that may produce major results for the 9/11/07 General Strike. The March 2006 Los Angeles protest saw 500,000 Angelinos join together. It was a predictor of the May Day millions across the nation. It included a majority of Latino civil rights advocates along with anti-Bush and antiwar participants. Image: Michael Sedano (with permission)
Saturday, March 25, 2006, I joined 499,999--heck, maybe there were a million of us-- other gente in the area around Los Angeles' City Hall. Our massive reaffirmation of the US Constitution was one of many such manifestations of community, and concern that the nation's growing repression of people like us requires critical attention. Half Million Immigrant Readers, Voters, Mass in LA Michael Sedano, La Bloga March, 2006
Possible Origins
While viral in nature at this point, recent history may result in a broad based coalition. The pervasive motivation is the clear indifference to pressing issues by all three branches of the federal government. The White House stalled the 911 investigation and then crippled the 911 Commission in many ways, including delay followed by insufficient funds and authority. The Supreme Court of the U.S. recently overturned landmark civil right legislation thanks to two newly appointed justices who convinced key Senators that they would not overturn civil rights protections. The new Democratic Congress of 2006 has failed to pass a meaningful resolution to end the Iraq War.
Specific recent political actions may well have contributed to the general strike. They reflect the joining of antiwar, 911 Truth, and impeachment groups.
- On June 27, 2007, the United States Social Forum, a convention of various social justice groups, passed a resolution that called for both the reopening of the 911 investigation and the impeachment of Bush and Cheney. This cooperative effort by the 911 Truth movement, impeachment organizations, and the anti war coalition is a new trend.
- On July 4, 2007, the Philadelphia Emergency Anti War Convention convened in Pennsylvania. Cindy Sheehan pointed out that her audiences have been filled with 911 Truth members who deserved answers to their questions. The convention produced a strong set of demands known as The Act Independent United Front Program. The program calls for impeachment of Bush, Cheney and associates; an end to all wars; restoration of Constitutional Rights; an end to “Bush police-state dictatorship;” a government by and for the people; and 9/11 truth – reopening the investigation and full release of all 9/11 documentation.
Only Four Weeks Left Until Sept. 11, 2007
Should this effort achieve momentum and see hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, “hit the streets,” politicians will be faced with a real dilemma. They can continue to ignore, delay and dissemble, reaping the consequences in 2008. Or they can act promptly and effectively to satisfy the demands of the American public.
Flyer from the http://www.strike911.org/ web site (flyer number 5)
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