'Mass Blackout' Starts Today: What to Know

By Jenna Sundel

News Reporter

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A movement by a coalition of grassroots organizations to withdraw participation from the economy, called the Mass Blackout, began on Tuesday.

Why It Matters

The coalition, including Blackout the System, The People’s Sick Day, American Opposition, the Money Out of Politics Movement, The Progressive Network, and others, urges Americans to completely withdraw from the consumer economy from November 25 to December 2.

The movement said in a press release that the week selected for the blackout is “the busiest and most profitable shopping week of the year,” with Black Friday and Cyber Monday falling within the blackout dates.

Organizers said the purpose of the movement is “demanding an end to corporate rule, political corruption, and the removal of the Trump administration.”

While economic blackouts make headlines, they do not always decrease sales. During a one-day economic blackout earlier this year by The People's Union USA, Amazon sales were up 3 percent compared to the average Friday, according to data from Momentum Commerce shared with Newsweek.

What To Know

The movement’s website said it is calling on Americans to stop online or in-store shopping, except at small businesses; stop work; stop streaming; cancel subscriptions; and stop digital purchases.

The movement also urges people to avoid travel, restaurants, and normal consumer behavior, and to stay off ad-driven platforms unless it's for organizing purposes.

“If you must spend: support small, local businesses only. Pay in cash. We’re not targeting small businesses or communities—we’re targeting the corporate systems that profit from injustice, fuel authoritarianism, and crush worker power,” the organizers said on its website.

Organizers acknowledged that not all individuals can stop working: "Choose the form of resistance that’s possible for you — and do it proudly."

Small Business Saturday (November 29) is exempted from the blackout. The organizers urged people to use that day to invest in community-based alternatives to major corporations.

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What People Are Saying

Isaiah Rucker Jr., founder of Blackout the System, in a statement: “This isn’t symbolic. We are living under a political system captured by special interests, where billionaires and corporations write the rules. Congress serves donors, not the American people, and democratic norms are being dismantled in front of our eyes, with corporate backing. This campaign is about showing them where the power truly lies, with the people.”

Carlos Álvarez-Aranyos, founder of American Opposition, in a statement: “We’re so proud to witness this merging of efforts. It truly represents the unity this movement has always aspired for. We all want what’s best for our nation and we recognize and value each other. In that way, we’re modeling the kind of democracy we want to deliver.”