Black Friday Protest: Buy Nothing Day

Black Friday Protest: Buy Nothing Day

Buy Nothing Day (BND) is an international day of protest against consumerism observed by social activists in the U.S. on the Friday after Thanksgiving -- a day typically recognized as the busiest day in the American retail calendar.

“Buy Nothing Day helps increase awareness of our spending habits and about mass consumerism and its effects on our lives and the world around us,” said Phil Edmonds, one of the organizers. “Buy Nothing Day is the symbol that changing our consumer habits can be a powerful force of social change.”

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First organized in Vancouver in September 1992 by Canadian artist Ted Dave, BND was soon promoted by Adbusters magazine and -- despite the refusal of several large TV/media companies to run advertisements for the campaign -- the day now boasts participants from over 65 nations. BND activities range from public protests like "credit card cut-ups" to shopping-alternatives like hikes, bike rides, and kayak trips. The most widespread BND activities are the Winter Coat Exchanges that originated in Rhode Island 14 years ago and subsequently spread to Kentucky, Utah, and Oregon.

"The purpose is to get people to stop and think about over-consumption, that's why we hold it on a day that people notoriously shop the most," said Tom Abbott, one of the participants. "The coat exchange has turned out to be more of a charity thing than an actual exchange, which is still great, but it was initially designed to be a place where people could leave their coats that they don't want or don't fit them anymore and others could come out to look for something used instead of just going out an buying a new coat every year."

Today six RI sites will be holding coat exchanges to clothe those in need and draw attention to the perceived problem of over-consumption by Americans. Beginning at 10 a.m., all the sites are open to anyone wishing to donate a coat, anyone in need of a winter coat, as well as volunteers interested in celebrating a break with consumer society.

Sites:
Providence: State House lawn, Rain Location: St Johns Cathedral, 271 N Main St. (10-2)

Pawtucket: Blackstone Valley Visitors Center, 175 Main St. (10-2)
Newport: St Paul’s Church 12 West Marlborough St. (10-noon)

Woonsocket: St Ann’s Arts and Cultural Center, 84 Cumberland Street (10-noon)
Wakefield: St. Francis Church, 114 High Street (10-noon)
Barrington: Bayside Family YMCA, 70 West St (10-noon)