“D id you hear about a national general strike that is being planned for February 17?” I was asked out of nowhere.
My response was “a what now?” I had not heard about a national general strike.
Results instantly appeared when I searched the Internet.
National General Strike on February 17?
There is a grass-roots movement for every American citizen to not work or purchase anything on Friday, February 17, 2017 — and to wear black on that day as well.
I am not going to discuss the reasons why this national strike is being planned — they are political — but I suppose there is some symbolism there: February 17 of this year is the Friday prior to President’s Day; or when displayed numerically, the date is 2/17/2017.
Although I believe that the travel industry — airlines, lodging companies, rental car companies, cruise lines as four of many examples — will likely be unaffected, I wanted to alert you to the possibility of any impediment to your travel plans just in case they come to fruition.
Summary
I did not know this; but during my searching, I found out that a national general strike was originally planned for Friday, January 20, 2017. Not only did I not hear about it; but nothing happened, to my knowledge.
The last time there was a general strike of any kind in the United States was localized, as it apparently occurred in Oakland in 1946; and prior to that, there have been general strikes in Minneapolis, Seattle, New Orleans, Toledo, New York, Saint Louis, Philadelphia and the west coast — as well as a plantation general strike in the Confederate States which also known as Black Reconstruction — but I was unable to find a time in the history of the United States when there was a national general strike.
Regardless of political affiliation, protests are part of what founded this country; and I respect the rights of people who want to peacefully strike against causes in which they do not believe — but that usually comes at a price of inconvenience for other people…
…so if you intend to travel on Friday, February 17, 2017 and experience any interruptions — even if they are minor — you now know the possible reason as to why.
Photograph ©2015 by Brian Cohen.
