Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap
December 2 Newsletter
Posted by Mary Bull (chalicenew@earthlink.net)
Wednesday, December 2, 1998
Greetings, Forest Defenders!
In this newsletter: Highlights from Gap Picket Day actions in other cities (New York, Seattle, Minneapolis, and more!) across the nation!
But first, a reminder that we cannot rest on our laurels for long: we MUST keep the pressure on--and even escalate this campaign--to save this forest! I will be organizing Gap pickets in San Francisco targeted for this weekend. And I urge YOU to keep the campaign trail blazing in your city, as well!
I received calls from Reuters and more local press and radio stations asking what we're planning next (this media coverage is a godsend: it is what gets the rest of the world to sit up and take notice--and ultimately to stop shopping Gap!!!). I told them I was going to try to get Enya to do a free concert in Golden Gate Park, *in the Memory of Trees* (I mean--what the hey--I can ask her, can't I?! ...And you never know!)
I told them that in the meantime we are picketing and spreading the boycott message until the Fishers back off from destroying this forest! Please, increase the outreach program in your city, call the universities throughout your state--find out who the student activists are and recruit them for this noble cause--that's a good start!
I'm also going to send you the transcript from a radio station interview I'm doing this evening. It will help you answer important questions about the state of this forest and what the Fishers are doing to it, when you engage in similar conversations and interviews.
By the way, I was told by one (rather retiring) forest defender that I used TOO MANY EXCLAMATION POINTS in my last email--!!!??? I want you to know that I meant EVERY ONE of those exclamation points from the bottom of my heart!!!
OK. Here's the good news:
....As of Monday stock analysts downgraded Gap, Inc!!! Whoopee!!!
NYC. Paolo Lanna and 10 Lindy Hop dancers swung for the redwoods in front of the Gap at 5th Avenue and 54th Street!!! After an hour, police told them they had to turn off their music--BUT THIS DID NOT STOP OUR INTREPID NYC FOREST DEFENDERS!!! They moved to the Gap at 34th and Broadway for another hour of swinging protest!!! Paolo reports that with the help of Wetlands Preserve activists, who gathered signatures while the Lindy Hoppers danced, they had a very effective protest! THREE BIG CHEERS FOR OUR NYC FOREST DEFENDERS!!!!
SEATTLE. GET READY FOR THIS!!! Peter Weiss, professor of Environmental Science at Seattle Central Community College and his group of activists actually got GAP EMPLOYEES TO SIGN THE PETITION!!! Peter reports, * You can add this to the Gap Picket day success stories:
In Seattle at the new Old Navy Store where throngs of hungry shoppers cruised by, 5 to 8 of us stood strong educating the masses with our picket signs made in my environmental science class. The store had their rebuttal being handed out inside, which basically said what we were saying out side. We handed out about 800 flyers and got about 500 signatures, in 4 hours. We got several store employees to sign. We even persuaded a few people not to shop there. Most importantly, we taught the connections between corporate greed, a forest, and the health of the salmon. All in all it was a lot of fun. Keep us informed as to the progress of the movement.*
WOW! CONGRATS TO OUR SEATTLE FOREST DEFENDERS!!!!
Peter, please let us in on your persuasive techniques!!!
MINNEAPOLIS. Our Mpls organizer, Greg Bosco Robinson, with the help of local Wobblies (our Bay Area Wobblies are wonderful, too!) had a very successful action which included handing out over 500 flyers and many copies of Mary Pjerrou's articles from our web site! Bosco proudly reports that he only found a couple of leaflets discarded in the gutter during clean-up after the picket. Here's an excerpt from Bosco's report:
*Our solidarity efforts in Minneapolis were small, but also very effective. We began the Gap Day Picket at 1:00 PM in front of their busiest and most visible store in trendy Uptown Minneapolis and went well into the evening after the shopping day crowd had petered out. We had a small initial turnout of eight dedicated picketers that grew throughout the day to a grand total of 15, or so. But we made up for our small size with a big return on petition signers, postcard signers (more about that later), great would-have-been Gap consumer converts and a pleasant show of general support and solidarity from the consumer community at large.* [The postcard addressed Gap's atrocious global labor policies].
THREE HUGE CHEERS FOR OUR MPLS FOREST DEFENDERS!!!
SANTA ROSA, CA. As you already know, the Santa Rosa action was led and executed solely by Mendocino high school students. They actually had the COURAGE to ENTER GAP STORES and EDUCATE the CUSTOMERS!!! Here's Mischka's inspiring report, in its entirety:
*The Mendocino Community High Schools entourage of students experienced a terrific protest (on the 27). Naturally upon arriving, we were immediately hassled by police and the mall manager, but all our conflicts were settled within minutes by stepping out of their jurisdiction of private property onto the side walk. To my surprise, people were enormously receptive to our pleas. We quickly ran out of petitions, and had to resort to binder paper in order to gain more signatures. Our leaflets likewise ran out rapidly, causing numerous missions to the nearby copy shop. It was again satisfying to see people read the leaflets as they walked on. Several members of our party walked the mall with demonstration T-Shirts, and went inside GAP stores to educate customers. Here we were once again blessed with reception. Many people left the stores without purchase, and some people even went back to return their previously purchased merchandiseˆ with smiles. That was the bottom line; it was fun, exciting and invoked hope for our future. Our (the MSSF: Mendocino Students for a Sustainable Future) thanks to Mary Pjerrou and Anna Marie Stenberg for their outrageous commitment and support.*
GARBERVILLE and EUREKA, CA. THIS IS PRETTY THRILLING: These two cities had no scheduled protests to our knowledge. Yet...Scoop Wilson of KMED in Garberville reported that there were picketers all day at the Old Navy store in Garberville on Nov. 27. Hillary Adams saw a report on the Eureka TV station of a picket at the Eureka mall Gap store. The reporter said it was Earth First! THREE CHEERS FOR OUR EUREKA AND GARBERVILLE FOREST DEFENDERS!!!!
MARIN, CA. I had a phone-in report that Dian--of the dynamic duo MACHA and DIAN--led the Marin County action in front of the Mill Valley Banana Republic. A follow-up email report was promised! THREE CHEERS FOR MARIN COUNTY FOREST DEFENDERS!!!
CORRECTION: SF Lindy Hoppers were led by Ken Watanabe and Belinda Ricklefs and also included Claudine Co, Paul, Elizabeth Lilly, Eric, and Paul Parrish. Special thanks to Judy Pritchett for her organizing efforts! THANK YOU AGAIN FOR THE GREAT SHOW!!!
All for now!
Cheers!
Mary Bull
Gap Picket Day, SF Coordinator
For questions and comments please e-mail us!
Return to the GWA main page
All pages designed and coded by ElkSoft Web Design
Copyright 1999 Save the Redwoods/Boycott the Gap.
