Organizations such as Shut It Down 4 Palestine, Calling Up Justice, and the ANSWER Coalition are orchestrating boycotts, rallies, and other protests to convey a message to the Biden administration.
Pro-Palestinian groups throughout the United States are organizing Black Friday protests, demanding a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.
As hundreds of millions of Americans are expected to head to retailers on Friday, protesters plan to gather at commercial centers, boycott large corporate stores, and participate in virtual demonstrations.
These activities align with the commencement of a temporary ceasefire in Gaza, with a focus on securing the release of 50 Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance. The negotiation involves an exchange for 150 Palestinian women and children currently detained in Israeli prisons.
Organizations such as Shut It Down 4 Palestine, Calling Up Justice, and the ANSWER Coalition are orchestrating boycotts, rallies, and other protests to convey a message to the Biden administration.
Walter Smolarek, the media coordinator for the ANSWER Coalition, emphasized as quoted by Newsweek that disrupting business as usual on one of the most profitable days for major corporations will exert pressure on the Biden administration to end its involvement in what they called the genocide of Palestinians.
“Black Friday is one of the most profitable days of the year for major corporations, and if these corporations are unable to function as usual, that will become another source of pressure on the Biden administration to end its participation in the genocide of Palestinians,” he stressed as quoted by Newsweek.
Smolarek highlighted that the ceasefire adds significance to the protests, as they demand that “Israel” and the US government refrain from restarting hostilities after the pause and instead accept a permanent ceasefire.
“We will demand that Israel and the U.S. government not reinitiate their genocide at the end of the pause but instead accept a permanent ceasefire,” he said as quoted by Newsweek.
Youth stand with Palestine
According to the National Students for Justice in Palestine, tens of thousands of students nationwide have participated in protests since the war on Gaza began in early October, with Friday’s demonstration serving as an extension of this ongoing campaign.
The aim is to convey the message that business will not proceed as usual as long as “Israel” commits genocide against the Palestinian people. The statement emphasizes the sustained high level of support, marking the largest mobilization in US history for Palestine over the past six weeks, with no expectation of a decline in backing.
Additionally, the group Calling Up Justice is coordinating a digital protest on Friday, as mentioned by Claudia Alick, the group’s executive producer. Alick highlighted the success of their previous protest, with over 500 participants, and emphasized the collaboration between digital gatherings and in-person protests, potentially involving thousands of individuals.
This year, the focus is on community and local businesses, refraining from shopping during Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas. Instead, efforts are directed toward organizing people for mutual aid and community support.
“This year, we’re not giving our dollars to those who fund genocide. For Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas, instead of shopping, we’re focusing on community and local businesses. We’re doing the labor to help organize people who want to exchange among themselves mutual-aid style,” Alick stressed, as quoted by Newsweek.
It is worth noting that the scheduled Black Friday demonstrations align with a record number of 180 million individuals heading to department stores and online retailers for their holiday shopping, as indicated by a survey conducted by the National Retail Federation (NRF).
The NRF anticipates a surge in spending during November and December, projecting a growth of 3 to 4 percent compared to 2022, resulting in sales ranging between $957.3 billion and $966.6 billion.
Source: Al Mayadeen
