By Sarah Lafen
Impunity Watch Desk Reporter, North America
WASHINGTON DC, United States — The organizers of the Women’s March last month announced a plan to hold a general women’s strike on a date that is yet to be determined. The plan for the strike has been announced across the official social media accounts for the Women’s March, declaring there will be a “General Strike: A Day Without a Woman.” The idea of a general strike comes from labor-oriented political movements where people leave their place of employment to demand political action.
(Photo Courtesy of Salon)
The general strike comes on the heels of the Women’s March which took place last month, in which over three million Americans across the nation protested their dissent for the new president. The official website of the Women’s March thanked participants, however also noted that the “march forward does not end here. Now is the time to get friends, family and community together and make history.”
Organizers of the Women’s March have voiced their praise for boycotts of companies that support President Trump, and reinforce their commitment to engage in “actions that affirmatively build community, strengthen relationships and support local, women- and minority-owned businesses” at a time when “foundational principles of freedom and equality are under threat.”
Many other organizations have called for strikes against the new presidency as well. Strike4Democracy has a general strike planned for February 17, and according to its Facebook page, over 16,000 people will be participating. The organizers of this strike are encouraging people to strike from work or school and spend the day doing community service. The strike is also calling upon members of Congress to defend the Constitution. Writer Francine Prose wrote an article in the Guardian, calling for a general strike following President Trump’s executive order temporarily banning travel from seven countries.
There are no other details about the women’s general strike aside from the caption on the Instagram picture announcing the strike, which reads “The will of the people will stand.” The Instagram post is the only public announcement that has been made about the general strike so far.
For more information, please see:
CNN — ‘A Day Without Woman’ — Women’s March Organizers Plan General Strike — 7 February 2017
Marie Claire — The Woman’s March Organizers are Planning a Women’s Strike — 6 February 2017
