Black Friday March

[James]

Some of us discussed this idea via email briefly, but I think a great way to inspire people to put their money back into the community would be a march from Melbourne Square Mall all the way thru downtown Melbourne, on Black Friday(the day after Thanksgiving.) I know it might be difficult to get people involved since many people will be out of town, but I think it would make a huge statement if people turned away from the crazy door-busters and shopped downtown instead. We could even try and get some vendor booths, and coordinate with some of the shops to have their own sales to maybe help encourage people to come out. Even if they don't want to march. I also don't really imagine the march itself being too difficult to organize. We could just stick to the sidewalk, and we wouldn't need a permit. Of course if we were trying to get crazy with street vendors, and closing off the roads in downtown that is a bit different...

Either way, bring your ideas, and lets try and at least get a time set up so the proposal is more than just HEY LETS MARCH SOMEWHERE! ;D

[Solus Hospes]

I really like this idea. We would still need to coordinate with the police so they can feel confident we'll obey traffic laws (crosswalks) and not get in the streets. Coordinate with the media for coverage and advertising. Does anyone know any Radio DJs? If we do reach out to the shop owners and they agree, we could even post signs advertising the march in their windows along side any deals they might be offering to encourage customers. We could return the favor by offering free advertising on the back of flyers we could make to advertise the march.

Just throwing out some ideas.

[James]

I think the cross advertising is legit. Maybe some of us can go around downtown and pitch the idea? Once we get something more put together that is. I think we should consider a Direct Action WG meeting sometime this week to focus on planning this thing!