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News & ArtsFriday, November 25, 2011
Occupy Occupying Black Friday at Westlake
Posted by Eli Sanders on Fri, Nov 25, 2011 at 3:39 PM
With Cienna Madrid.
- E.S.
- Members of the Seattle Peace, Labor, and Women's Choruses, singing for the 99 percent.
- E.S.
- "Quick, the stuff is running out!" they said.
There were enough police barricades to keep at least a thousand protesters in a neat pen on Westlake Plaza while simultaneously allowing wide corridors for shoppers rushing to buy, buy, buy. But as it turned out, the Occupy protest against Black Friday was relatively small and non-confrontational.
Members of the Seattle Peace, Labor, and Women's choruses sang for the 99 percent, offering re-tooled carols, hyper-earnest lyrics ("We are fighting for a better world / we are building a community / we are reaching out to everyone"), and a nice version of the ur-protest song, Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land." They even threw in the "secret" verses: "In the squares of the city / In the shadow of a steeple / By the relief office / I'd seen my people / As they stood there hungry / I stood there asking / Is this land made for you and me?"
Over at the Buy Nothing tent, Linda Bard and her daughter Maylia, 7, were working on a craft project. "We're doing some store shopping today, but for the most part our family is making gifts this year," Bard said. "And Maylia's making all her gifts, which is why we're here. Right now she's making art for her dad. I'm trying to make her think about gifts more critically. When she points out things she wants, I ask her why she wants them and then I ask her where she thinks those toys or clothes or whatever is made, and how they're made. And then we discuss how we could make them at home. It's a tough shift for a child, but it's a good one."
- E.S.
A man who gave his name only as Aaron, and said he was 37 years old, stood holding this sign:
- E.S.
Aaron said he was at Westlake "just to remind people that there is a local economy. I think the whole Black Friday thing—it's so much just, 'Buy stuff, doesn't matter what it is.' I just want people to shop more local. Go to the thrift store. Go to used book stores."
- E.S.
There was a tent with free art and symbolic gifts for the over-worked working class:
- E.S.
Closer to the mall, the choir was drowned out by canned, corporate-approved Christmas music. But in their space at the back of the Westlake Plaza they sang their hearts out.
- E.S.
1
I hope plenty of people at Westlake took the time to stop in at City Kitchens, a 100% local treasure owned and staffed by simply marvelous people, some of whom have made invaluable contributions to the genuine Pike/Pine cultural scene. They have wonderful sales. Look, their sign is in that photo, behind Aaron in the hat whose placard tells people not to buy things.
2
Occupy Seattle continues its steady march to irrelevance: Not a populist surge of support for social justice. More like a shabby cluster of disaffected self-aggrandizing Scrooges, bleating nonsense because the world doesnt appreciate the gifting qualities of a piss-poor homemade train and gently worn bowling shirt.
4
Today I bought used, but I also got one item free, and so local I walked and brought my own bag. So the recipient, gift giver, and local merchant will be/are happy. And no one got pepper-sprayed.
I miss the Cacophony Society's Bob Dylan Christmas Caroling at Westlake.
I miss the Cacophony Society's Bob Dylan Christmas Caroling at Westlake.
5
I'm convinced that Occupy is not the answer. The pauper and the billionaire are both extremes who do not relate to the middle 80%, the new world middle class who must make the changes through the business process of eliminating overvalued assets and rewarding undervalued services.
7
@3 lots of US jobs created when you Buy Local at Pike Place Market.
Why do you worship your Chinese masters so?
Why do you worship your Chinese masters so?
8
"Aaron said...I just want people to shop more local."
maybe his sign should have said that instead.
maybe his sign should have said that instead.
14
Look at all those goofy bumbling naive white Seattle "progressive" smarmy smug do-gooder Libtards!
LOL!!!!
Stereotypes come to life!!!!
LOL!!!!
Stereotypes come to life!!!!
16
Fuckwad with 'Buy more stuff" sign on the left is holding his Starbucks vente, ironically no doubt.
18
Considering how much the economy is dependent on service sector, I'm not sure that telling people not to buy stuff is a helpful message.
19
I'm sick of a chorus of white middle aged people telling me what to do. They need to go home, dye their grays, clean the mold in their house, turn off the NPR, and take a nap with their cats.
21
Stock up on ramen and Campbell's when on sale. Ignore all advertisers, including local. Ignore all suggestions to buy local. Don't buy at all.
22
Is occupying the Walmart in Renton more acceptable to those who feel that Occupy Seattle's message is wasted by occupying a community college?
http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/13451…
http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/13451…
23
Here's a project for Occupy.
Find the Poorest Person in Ameica...scour the Web, search every corner.
Next, find the richest person in America. Ok, well, here's a head start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates%…
Now...arrange a meeting and ask if the one can help the other.
Next, find the 2nd poorest person in America....
Find the Poorest Person in Ameica...scour the Web, search every corner.
Next, find the richest person in America. Ok, well, here's a head start:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates%…
Now...arrange a meeting and ask if the one can help the other.
Next, find the 2nd poorest person in America....
24
@ SRotU
Occupy is providing a platform and a voice to represent that Poorest Person in America. And the Richest Persons are perhaps noticing the "Poorest" for the first time in a long time, now that income disparity is becoming part of the discussion in every public policy decision and affecting the outcome of elections. The combined losses of millions of American Dreams is not a simple message that can be branded and purchased, and this confuses and scares people who think the only value of humans is their purchase of brands. Your project is already happening.
Occupy is providing a platform and a voice to represent that Poorest Person in America. And the Richest Persons are perhaps noticing the "Poorest" for the first time in a long time, now that income disparity is becoming part of the discussion in every public policy decision and affecting the outcome of elections. The combined losses of millions of American Dreams is not a simple message that can be branded and purchased, and this confuses and scares people who think the only value of humans is their purchase of brands. Your project is already happening.
25
Just for the record, Buy Nothing Day has nothing to do with the Occupy movement. Buy Nothing Day was started in 1992 as a comedic response to the vampyric dependancy on mindless consumerism. Occupy, as far as I know, is unrelated and occured around 2011.
@3, 18 - You have a very good point. The Economist points out that the American economy rides on the backs of the American "consumer". The BBC states: "The retail sector...supports about a quarter of all jobs in the US" (25.Nov.2011).
But the real question is: WTF?!? How insane is an economy that relies on the majority of people constantly buying stuff? When many of the things you actually need --aside from food-- are pretty durable and will last many years, Why do we have to "Keep Shopping" as Bush/Cheney asked us to in the afterdays of 9/11? This comes down to the fundamental question: What do you want society to be about? As a group, we are this incredible force.... what should our collective force be directed towards doing? Just buying shit? No.
And secondly: If the US economy is so highly dependent on constant consumer purchasing... why aren't economic recovery efforts aimed as increasing liquid capital for the majority of "consumers"? ...who are needed... ..to buy shit... .to keep the economy moving.... Puzzle me that one.
@3, 18 - You have a very good point. The Economist points out that the American economy rides on the backs of the American "consumer". The BBC states: "The retail sector...supports about a quarter of all jobs in the US" (25.Nov.2011).
But the real question is: WTF?!? How insane is an economy that relies on the majority of people constantly buying stuff? When many of the things you actually need --aside from food-- are pretty durable and will last many years, Why do we have to "Keep Shopping" as Bush/Cheney asked us to in the afterdays of 9/11? This comes down to the fundamental question: What do you want society to be about? As a group, we are this incredible force.... what should our collective force be directed towards doing? Just buying shit? No.
And secondly: If the US economy is so highly dependent on constant consumer purchasing... why aren't economic recovery efforts aimed as increasing liquid capital for the majority of "consumers"? ...who are needed... ..to buy shit... .to keep the economy moving.... Puzzle me that one.
26
Saving the world from rampant consumerism, one venti latte from starbucks and old navy scarfs and hats at a time.
Fight on, brave morons.
Fight on, brave morons.
27
@25 Buy Nothing Day has been heavily promoted by Adbusters for years and the origins of Occupy Wall Street may have been from email discussions within Adbusters about ways to change the current system. Their Carnivalesque Rebellion issue for November 22-28, 2010, includes articles about class and meme warfare, civil disobedience, moving ones money from banks to credit unions, and the hope that "On campus after campus, we will chase you old goats (teachers of neoclassical economics) out of power. Then, in the months and years that follow, we will begin the work of reprogramming your doomsday machine." And on the back it says I Love You, which is a nice sentiment for a revolution.
28
@23
Bill gates has done more to advance society, save lives, preserve endangered peoples, and generally make the world a better place than you could ever hope to in your sorry, miserable life.
Bill gates has done more to advance society, save lives, preserve endangered peoples, and generally make the world a better place than you could ever hope to in your sorry, miserable life.
29
#24
Bla di blah blah.
The question is where is a list of the Fortune -400 ... the ranking of the poorest people in America. They are just as faceless to you if you don't know.
#28
Troll baiting bastard.
Bla di blah blah.
The question is where is a list of the Fortune -400 ... the ranking of the poorest people in America. They are just as faceless to you if you don't know.
#28
Troll baiting bastard.
30
@29
Last night when I was out riding and taking pictures I stopped and gave ten dollars to Turner from St. Louis. He'd been in the hospital all day with an abscessed and very swollen ankle (I should've got a picture for your list!) and then released to spend the night on the streets with no pain medicine or crutch. I hope he got a little bit of comfort for the night, and I wish you comfort for this one. And if you need ten dollars, sell your stick.
Last night when I was out riding and taking pictures I stopped and gave ten dollars to Turner from St. Louis. He'd been in the hospital all day with an abscessed and very swollen ankle (I should've got a picture for your list!) and then released to spend the night on the streets with no pain medicine or crutch. I hope he got a little bit of comfort for the night, and I wish you comfort for this one. And if you need ten dollars, sell your stick.
31
Ok great...throw him in the minivan and bring him up to Medina...seriously, OccupySeattle is within a 25 mile radius of several of the richest people on Earth...yet when they do their happenings, they end up inconveniencing a bunch of admin assistants trying to get home from work, or else they pee on some poor community college kids trying to learn how to use spreadsheets so they can get a job.
Does something seem wrong in strategy?!
And yeah, since you were taking pictures, you should catalog Turner...we need a Facebook of the Indignant.
Does something seem wrong in strategy?!
And yeah, since you were taking pictures, you should catalog Turner...we need a Facebook of the Indignant.
32
I walked passed the area, I agree, there were more cops out than there were protesters. Looks like the homeless folks at the SCCC (once again) want nothing to do with the protests.
I followed the twitter feed, looks like they tried to block traffic again on 5th and Pine (in solidarity for Egypt), but everyone ignored them.
I followed the twitter feed, looks like they tried to block traffic again on 5th and Pine (in solidarity for Egypt), but everyone ignored them.
33
@25: For a closed system, income must equal spending (Person A makes money when Person B spends), so it's not at all "insane" to have an economy based on people buying things. The real question is, how would you have an economy that didn't?
34
I'm no fan of black Friday, so I make it a point to stay away from the stores every year. What I don't do is buy myself a hot Starbucks coffee and put on my best scarf so I am warm while I carry my oh so fucking self righteous sign mocking holiday shoppers. Do you really care that much? Why is it perfectly OK for you to do your Christmas shopping a week from now, but those that do it today are assholes? How long did you wait in line for their Iphones/Ipads?
It's shit like this that alienates EVERYBODY. Yeah,your friends think your clever and you get to bask in the warm glow of your self aggrandizement, but all it does is push the average schmuck from the suburbs into the embrace of the right. The people you want on your side, the 99%? They hate your fucking guts and they are repelled by your thinly veiled class hatred.
It's shit like this that alienates EVERYBODY. Yeah,your friends think your clever and you get to bask in the warm glow of your self aggrandizement, but all it does is push the average schmuck from the suburbs into the embrace of the right. The people you want on your side, the 99%? They hate your fucking guts and they are repelled by your thinly veiled class hatred.
35
"your thinly veiled class hatred"
Exactly and many of the folks out on Black Friday are from lower classes. Go figure.
Exactly and many of the folks out on Black Friday are from lower classes. Go figure.
36
Dammit! I demand this gift for Xmas:
http://boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads…
(Police dood pepper spraying everyone!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla…
http://boingboing.net/wp-content/uploads…
(Police dood pepper spraying everyone!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pla…
37
Hi I'm Aaron. My sign had two sides. Not shown in the photo, obviously. One of which said to BUY (with the reminder to consumers of which I am one, "How much is enough?") and the other had a painting of the Earth which said BYE! (with the caption "What kind of world do we want to live in?) One of the problems I have with the press is how other people will frame your ideas. You people who suggest that my sign is off topic from my statement about shopping local are just looking for any possible way to disagree with my message. Obviously a sign cannot spell out all of the complexities of our economy. Nor could I come up with the perfect message to sum it all up in a phrase. I personally do not see a disconnect from a reminder for people to consider their purchases and what their impact might mean for our environment and supporting local business.
38
" Nor could I come up with the perfect message to sum it all up in a phrase. I personally do not see a disconnect from a reminder for people to consider their purchases and what their impact might mean for our environment and supporting local business."
Uh, maybe you could have made a sign that said "please shop locally"?
No...that clearly doesn't express your smug sense of self satisfaction.
Uh, maybe you could have made a sign that said "please shop locally"?
No...that clearly doesn't express your smug sense of self satisfaction.
39
@37 Hi Aaron. As a member of the 99% who plans on spending the holidays blowing apart various funny looking foreigners on the new 'Call of Duty Modern Warfare', let me just say, fuck you and your self righteous, smug friends.
40
Oh and by the way Aaron if everyone starts buying in thrift stores or used books can all the millions thrown out of work by your new barter/scrap economy come live with you and your douchebag hat?
42
My hat came from a local business. As does most of what I have on in this photograph. I am a small local business owner. Attacking my hat and calling me names is really proving my point about people looking for any reason to disagree with me.
43
I am struck by how increasingly similar the comments on slog posts are to the comments on seattletimes.com stories.
45
@ Aaron. You still haven't explained how will will help us once everyone turns to a barter and second hand economy. Seriously, how will you Goodwill utopia feed, cloth and employ the 99%?
46
@42 (aaron)
okay, i'll bite. your sign, "how much is enough?". who's to say how much is enough? you? me? who? only the person buying knows how much is enough for them. stop trying to force your ideology on others.
so, you like to shop at thrift and used book stores. good for you; here's a gold star. others may not think like you and that's okay. we're a nation of individuals who have our own needs and desires. what's right for you may not be right for me. get over it.
okay, i'll bite. your sign, "how much is enough?". who's to say how much is enough? you? me? who? only the person buying knows how much is enough for them. stop trying to force your ideology on others.
so, you like to shop at thrift and used book stores. good for you; here's a gold star. others may not think like you and that's okay. we're a nation of individuals who have our own needs and desires. what's right for you may not be right for me. get over it.
47
Buy Local and Buy Less Crap are worthwhile messages. I'd say this set of demonstrations sent a more positive message overall than the screamfest at WalMart in Renton.
48
I just bought a 6 core 16GB DDR3 2TB pc with a 20 in LED monitor for about $800 - Cyber Monday rules.
And then Ian and I had Indian food at Qazi's in Fremont. Yum!
And then Ian and I had Indian food at Qazi's in Fremont. Yum!
49
What's your point, Will? You saved money? Good for you, here's a gold star for you. Now, what are you going to do with the money you saved?
I'm with Aaron, @42. Buying local, buying less, buying less crap, making when you can. And if you find me smug for that, it's OK with me. I'm not afraid of being considered politically correct, nor do I choose to be politically incorrect just to make waves.
I'm with Aaron, @42. Buying local, buying less, buying less crap, making when you can. And if you find me smug for that, it's OK with me. I'm not afraid of being considered politically correct, nor do I choose to be politically incorrect just to make waves.
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