FUCK YES!!!!1!1!oneleven

[haruhiko]

So there was a HUGE network of labor rallies that took place all across the country today to stand in solidarity with Wisconsin (AND mark/mourn the brutal murder of MLK Jr. when he was standing up to support striking sanitation workers in Memphis over thirty years ago), and I attended one outside the beautifully restored old county courthouse after

Comments

[bmh4d0k3n]

Sounds awesome! I'm about to go out and vote. Too much of it will be lesser-of-two-evils voting, but Wisconsin is in dire straits.

[haruhiko]

Get it, bb! I hope you guys win big and that it's the first of many wins,

[doe_witch]

YAYE. This reminds me I haven't shared my thoughts about being a renegade ~pamphleteer~ on Thursday... There was some hubbub regarding a general strike then, except by general strike I mean "evidently some FB group that 13k people were a part of total but that nobody arranged anything for in Boston (BOSTON!)." Not that I was expecting anything big, but I had made up some leaflets about socialism/the labor movement and their place in the US, and I was all thinkin' I'd have some people on the Common to maybe try and hand them out with me. Anyway by the time that morning hit I was pretty certain no one would actually be there at all, but I went anyway. Holy crap it is intimidating to do that kind of thing all on your own. 8| I did still get some people to take what I'd written, but finally I decided it wasn't going to be nearly as productive as if I'd had a couple companions, so then I just went around taping leaflets up, dropping them in subway cars, etc. I don't know, it was all very uneventful... but still exciting to even distribute

[haruhiko]

Holy crap that big of a FB group and there was no one around? D: Shit Tyrone Boston get it together!

And yeah doing that on your own can be really intimidating. I can do it and do it well because I've worked in sales for years and I know how to turn on that persona, but I haaaaaaaate it. That sort of schmoozing/easy icebreaking/being very outgoing with people does NOT come naturally to me so it really is WORK to go out there and do it. Definitely bring a frond (or a Stu XD) with you next time, even if you split up and each work the crowds on your own it's nice to know that you can run back to someone you know and chill with them when you need a break from putting yourself out there.

But yes thanks bb the rally was awesome! :'''') The people in the thick of the rally had signs like I did but the people on the edges were more shy about participating and were more likely not to have signs so I worked the rim that's what she said handing out my flyers to anyone who would take them. I could tell a lot of people were kind of side-

[doe_witch]

Boston's been having a revived May Day march/rally since... 2006 I think? It was pretty neat last year. Very immigration-focused, but I think the focus changes yearly, so I can imagine this will be more about the unions. And I'm really hoping it's big; I think last year there were 500-1000 people.

[scruloose]

Okay, I know you lovely peeps on my fronds list are probably sick and tired of my LJ having this political focus lately.
Actually, I'm rather enjoying it for my part. I love hearing about the things people care passionately about.

Also, it can be eye-opening. I'll admit that I was pretty caught up in the whole "protecting the civilian protesters" rhetoric around the intervention in Libya, until your post on the subject and a couple of the linked articles helped to, um, shift my perspective somewhat.