Protesters are planning to Occupy Black Friday by hosting a series of demonstrations across the country, including an anti-fur rally at Macy’s Herald Square in Manhattan.
More than 150 animal-rights activists and Occupy Wall Street protesters will add to the frenzy outside of Macy’s flagship store on W. 34th St. starting at 1:30 p.m. Friday, organizers told The Associated Press
Several other demonstrations are expected in U.S. cities on the nation’s post-Thanksgiving shopping splurge.
In Seattle, protesters plan to carpool to Wal-Mart stores and there join other Occupy groups from around Washington state.
In the nation’s capital, protesters want people to donate unwanted items so others can go gift shopping for free.
And a few groups plan to hit the mall, but not for shopping. So-called “Consumer zombies” from the 75-person Occupy encampment in Boise, Idaho, plan to wander around malls in silent protest of what they see as unnecessary spending.
In the Windy City, protesters plan to serenade shoppers with Christmas carols reworked with lines about the importance of buying local. Flash mobs are planned for three malls in Des Moines, Iowa.
“We didn’t want to guilt-trip people at a mall,” said Occupy Des Moines organizer Ed Fallon. “We wanted to get at them in a playful, friendly way, to support local businesses.”
But that may not fly with some small business owners who are wary of having any association with the movement and its anti-corporate beliefs.
“If you ask, a lot of small business owners identify as business owners, not specifically small business,” said Jean Card, a spokeswoman for the National Federation of Independent Business.
Card said many shoppers may not have the patience or time to hit multiple small businesses to fill their Christmas lists.
“I would like to believe there is a silver lining, but I don’t picture a frustrated consumer that can’t get into a box store turning around and going to a small business,” Card said. “I see that person going home.”
John Quinterno, principal at the public policy research firm South by North Strategies in Chapel Hill, N.C., added that small businesses aren’t always better employers when it comes to pay, benefits and opportunity.
“Sometimes we romanticize small business — and I say this as a small business owner myself — so that it skews some of our debates about economic and labor policy,” Quinterno said. “It doesn’t mean they aren’t important. It just means that larger businesses tend to create a lot more value added per job.”
With News Wire Services
