The Peoples’ Union USA, a new national movement organized by Illinois-based activist John Schwarz, is calling for a nationwide economic blackout on Friday February 28. “My fellow Americans,” he says in an Instagram post, the 24-hour economic blackout is coming. “On Friday, February 28, the Peoples’ Union will make its first move.”
Schwarz, founder of the Peoples’ Union USA, is calling for people across the country to stop spending money for one day. “No Amazon, no Walmart, no banks, no fast food chains,” he says.
Schwarz did not respond to KDNK’s request for comment but he told KSJD St. Louis that he put the economic blackout idea and the Peoples’ Union in motion in early February. Since then, his website has received 750,000 hits and 55,000 people from across the globe have requested information. A Go Fund Me page has raised about $69,000 dollars towards a goal of a hundred grand.
He says it’s time for people to take a stand, and demand corporations and billionaires pay their share of taxes.
Steve Kuschner with 350 Roaring Fork told KDNK that the group has not lent its name to Friday’s economic boycott but that they support the idea. “We understand that the way we live now, which is so based upon buying things and owning things and everything is disposable,” he said. “Let’s stop for a minute and get as many people as possible to become aware of the truth of overconsumption and how it’s led us to where we are now. We’re eating our planet, so to speak, alive.”
The Peoples’ Union USA asks everyone to do, well…nothing…on Friday. At least, don’t do anything that involves shopping unless it’s absolutely necessary or an emergency or something. And if you can’t resist? Schwarz says “support only local businesses and essential needs”.
He adds that the economic blackout is about disrupting the economy. “We are the ones who build. We are the ones who buy and we are the ones who make this country run,” he says. “Without us they have nothing so what happens when we stop playing their game?” he asks.
I guess we’ll find out.
The Peoples’ Union USA has several more economic blackouts planned through April.
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