Steeeerike

Big day today.  Occupy Oakland has called for a general strike, asking that all workers go on strike, call in sick, take a vacation day or simply walk off the job with their co-workers.  Many actions are planned including a march from downtown to the Port of Oakland.  The idea is to disrupt commerce, especially banks and to shut down the city's port.

Here's why:

The Oakland General Strike will demonstrate the wide reaching implications of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The entire world is fed up with the huge disparity of wealth caused by the present system. Now is the time that the people are doing something about it.The Oakland General Strike is a warning shot to the 1% – their wealth only exists because the 99% creates it for them.

Occupy Oakland  has the support of the SEIU, UAW, the Alameda Labor Council – an umbrella group representing over 100 local unions (although most labor contracts prohibit them from proclaiming an official strike).  Workers at the Port of Oakland won't walk off the job but the International Longshoreman Worker's Union, according to a spokesperson, is "encouraging members to participate before work, after work, at lunch and during breaks."

Even if you can't skip out of work or yank your kids out of school, there are plenty of ways to show support.  There will be mass gatherings at 14th and Broadway at 9:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 5:00 pm.  Here's the link to Occupy Oakland for the details and for how to participate. 

Another important event tomorrow at Occupy Oakland, at 2 pm, is a "Food Justice Teach-In," on taking back control of our food, land and resources, with information about how to understand the corporate food system, and how to build community-based alternatives.

There is going to be a lot happening all over the country.  Click here for actions in other locales.