Rep. Jim McGovern (D, MA) called for a general strike during a Greenfield town hall last night. The call to strike comes in response to the authoritarian actions of the Trump administration. Gutting federal programs, suppressing protests, blocking news outlets, and illegally detaining and trying to deport people for free speech? Those are just a few of the reasons that Rep. McGovern and many of his constituents want a general strike. Calling on all corners of public and private life to strike until there’s change? That’s a big ask. Unfortunately, the U.S. is past the point where gentler strategies might work.
Rep. McGovern Calls for General Strike in U.S.
Town hall altercations are becoming more common. So are inspiring moments of solidarity. Rep. McGovern created one such moment when he called for a general strike, which he acknowledged as an “out of the box idea” that’s “easier said than done.” He also pointed to the successful history of general strikes in Europe. The U.S. has a strong tradition of successful labor movements, but they never come without painful costs. If faced with such a strike, the Trump administration would likely seek to make such pains as grave as possible to discourage further protest.
A Reddit post by u/sarcodiotheca about McGovern’s statement garnered over 2.9k upvotes and many supportive comments. “We should do this, and can do this, but people need to step up and really put their mind, body, soul, and pocketbook into it,” said one commenter. Indeed, when many people are already struggling to feed and house their families, a general strike requires careful planning to be successful. Another commenter framed the issue this way, saying,
If you’re more concerned with your credit score than stopping a rogue fascist dictatorship from permanently taking hold, kindly get the f*ck out of the way and have fun explaining to your grandchildren that in the face of tyranny you chose to do nothing.
The call for a general strike from McGovern in Greenfield likely won’t be the last. The Massachusetts Rep., like Bernie Sanders as well as many with no connection to the Democratic Party, sees the need for something more. Liberal negotiation and capitulation will only make things worse in Greenfield and beyond.
