As an International Workers Day rallying cry, ‘‘shop local!’ seemed tone deaf at best, at worst a conscious diversion from the task at hand, presented by a group whose limited goals are Chamber of Commerce approved— “Putting all of labor’s eggs in the basket of capitalist institutions is a far cry from what’s needed right now: a united working-class movement that can shut down business as usual. The labor movement should be actively building a fightback like that of the 2006 Day Without An Immigrant. On May 1, 2006, workers in 150 different cities left work to protest a vicious anti-immigrant bill put forward during the George W. Bush administration.”
— Richard Holsworth, Sonoma
The Community's Independent Voice
Did you attend the talk by Fred Glass, a labor leader on May 2 at Burlingame Hall? The topic was American Fascism, but many more topics were discussed, including the idea of a general strike and when it would take place. Also discussed were the differences between larger cities, and small towns, the working population of each, and economic impact to workers in smaller communities this May day, if all shopping and all use of services in a small community had stopped. The talk and Q and A will be available soon and be posted on You Tube. At that point I will share it with Mr. Holsworth. But, if he did attend the talk then, I would wonder why he wrote this LTE.
Mr. Holsworth, as Fred Glass, Union and Labor historian of many, many years and quite renown – said, in doing these types of actions, you have to stay in touch with your community. One size does not fit all. I would highly recommend that you do your research before making such statements. Also, of note, is that although a general strike is very much the goal and will be impactful – “we are not there yet”… Communities must be ready. Do Your research.