On February 17, It Is Your Duty To Go To Work And Buy Stuff In An Effort To Offset The National Strike Planned For That Day

First National Strike Against Donald Trump Planned For 2/17

 02/09/2017 04:18 pm ET | Updated 17 hours ago

Kimberley A. Johnson Author of Peyton’s Choice, American Woman: The Poll Dance, Media Director for We Are Woman

DANIELVILLENEUVE VIA GETTY IMAGES

A growing number of activists are calling for a general national strike against President Trump on February 17, 2017 - the Friday before President’s Day.

In addition to the nationwide marches and protests, the first of possibly many general non-violent strikes are meant to send a message of widespread disapproval to Trump, his administration and to the Republicans who enable him.

On January 30, The Guardian’s Francine Prose was the first to call for a “nonviolent national general strike” that cannot be “easily ignored and forgotten by those who wish to ignore and forget them.”

Prose wrote, “Let’s designate a day on which no one (that is, anyone who can do so without being fired) goes to work, a day when no one shops or spends money, a day on which we truly make our economic and political power felt, a day when we make it clear: how many of us there are, how strong and committed we are, how much we can accomplish.”

Prose’s article inspired other activists to get involved.

Over 18 thousand people have committed to strike at the Facebook event General Strike Against Trump.

The associated website f17strike.com describes the event:

“This grassroots movement is calling for a national general strike on February 17th, 2017 in defense of our nation’s constitution. Participants pledge to be non-violent. On the day of the strike, we will not go to work (unless absolutely necessary). We will not go to school (unless necessary). We will not spend any money (unless necessary). Instead, we will show dissent with unconstitutional governance through gatherings and activities to be organized at the local/personal level. Some communities are planning a day of service. Instead of work, strikers will dedicate their time to serving neighbors in need. Find your people. Make your plan. Spread the word...”

Their demands:

1. No Ban, No Wall. The Muslim ban is immoral, the wall is expensive and ineffectual. We will build bridges, not walls.

2. Healthcare For All. Healthcare is a human right. Do not repeal the ACA. Improve it or enact Medicare for All.

3. No Pipelines. Rescind approval for DAPL and Keystone XL and adopt meaningful policies to protect our environment. It’s the only one we’ve got.

4. End the Global Gag Rule. We cannot put the medical care of millions of women around the globe at risk.

5. Disclose and Divest. Show us your taxes. Sell your company. Ethics rules exist for a reason and presidents should focus on the country, not their company.

The organizers of the highly successful Women’s March on inaugural weekend have also announced plans for a mass strike in opposition of President Trump. 

In a tweet, the group announced a general strike on a date yet to be determined and provided no other details.

The will of the people will stand. pic.twitter.com/SKJCRLhRKn

— Women’s March (@womensmarch) February 6, 2017

It is unclear if any of the organizers have an ongoing plan for a series of strikes. However, if the message is not received by Trump and congressional Republicans, more general strikes are likely.