Michael Collins: 911 General Strike Gains Momentum

Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 1:21 pm
Opinion: Michael Collins

911 General Strike Gains Momentum

“No Work, No School, No Shopping – Hit the Streets”

The 911 General Strike called by a coalition of antiwar, 911 Truth, and pro impeachment groups is gaining strength with gatherings scheduled across the country and rapidly expanding activity on the Internet, where the idea originated.

We see this action as one against the injustices listed on the site but also one against our own fear, apathy, and cynicism. We want this to be an opportunity for citizens to reclaim a sense of power in defining their own destiny and running our own government. http://www.strike911.org/ Truth mover 27 August 2007

Strike activities are growing by the day. Formal events are listed below but there’s more. Every citizen is empowered by this essentially leaderless, egoless movement. This is one case where the people will actually lead if they choose. The impact of major public participation would shock those in power who ignore what they see as a passive public.

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We recommend that everyone become an organizer for this strike. Try to link up with people in your area, have meetings, network, discuss over the internet, and plan your own creative actions for the 11th. People can help out the strike by just continuing to organize, communicate, and spread the word.
http://www.strike911.org/ Truth mover 27 August 2007

The 911 General Strike takes delivering the message to a whole new level. Apparently the message sent by the 2006 elections got lost in the spam folder. Citizen reminder messages, tens of millions of them, from the public in person, by mail, email, phone, etc., weren’t enough. The general strike gives citizens a chance to show those in power it’s time to listen through “a day of personal reflection and nonviolent dissent in recognition of the course we have been on since 9/11.” The simple action plan includes – no school, no work, no buying anything (at all), and hit the streets.

Indictment of a Government on Holiday

A White House run by the war lobby and an absentee Congress created the following issues which unite citizens in a demand for action:

• Failure to end the Iraq war


• Failure to conduct a no-holds-barred 911 investigation


• Inaction on impeachment hearings


• Elections that become less believable and meaningful with each cycle


• Inaction on health care for those in need


• The willful, deliberate dismantling of the Constitution

The list goes on. Citizens are barely acknowledged, rarely heard.

Help your local media cover this story by forwarding this article and link to them.

The strike grew from grassroots activists in various anti administration group seeking coordinated action and unity. Right now, the following actions are scheduled to take place on September 11, 2007. The goal is to get as many citizens as possible to recognize this highly symbolic day by joining the 911 General Strike and make the clear statement, “No more!”

The www.strike911.org, Global Day of Action, and other sites will be continuously updating activities.

Global Day of Action

Washington, DC
New York City
Los Angeles, CA
Oakland, CA
San Francisco, CA
San Louis Obispo, CA
Santa Barbara, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Bloomington, IN
Boston, MA
Minneapolis, MN
Raleigh, NC
Dover, NH
Columbus, OH
Seattle, WA
Baraboo, WI
----------
Brussels, Belgium
Vancouver, BC
Rouen, France
Dublin, Ireland
Kristiansen, Norway

The Washington, DC 9/11/2007 action includes a rally in Lafayette Park at noon, another rally at the White House, a march to the Capitol, and the delivery of a petition to Congress. New York City will have a number of events that bring general strikers and others together to insist on change now.

Internet activity continues at the sites above, www.strike911.org, and other internet sites. Truth Movers at the strike911 site report that “buzz on the internet” is extensive and broad based. The web page serves as a central location for information, networking, and strike materials. Groups have started up at FaceBook and MySpace to encourage students and others to participate.

http://www.strike911.org/

“How long do we have to wait?”

The words below came from citizens interviewed for this article.

How long do we have to wait? I don’t see a single thing being done that we asked for. What was the 2006 election about? Weren’t we clear enough?

These views are reflected in public opinion polls showing Bush approval consistently at or below 30% with disapproval above 60%. Only 27% of the public thinks the country is headed in the right direction, while 68% see the country headed in the wrong direction. PollingReport.Com 8/26/07. The wrong direction figure has been above 60% every month since September 11.2005. The debate is over. The bipartisan war party lost.

The General Strike of 9/11/2007 is the first of a series of events planned for September. It began in mid summer as a new, first time coalition effort by activists from different groups with a shared agenda, positive change. Reliance on the Internet and the unknowns between now and 9/11 make it difficult to say how widespread participation will be. But the pattern is set. Like the 1916 Easter Rising in Ireland, thispeaceful general strike will show what rank and file movement members and committed citizens can do when they demand action

911 is only two weeks away. On that day, the collective actions of this bottom up movement will provide citizens the chance to show their strength through both numbers and intensity.
Previous “Scoop” coverage of the 911 General Strike: General Strike In USA on Sept. 11, 2007

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