NORTH ANDOVER — An economic blackout, aimed at taking a swipe at corporate greed and government, gained some steam in the Merrimack Valley on Friday.
While it’s unclear how badly the nationwide protest disrupted the economy Friday, local progressive groups such as the Greater Andover Indivisible embraced the measure which called for a complete shutdown to any spending for one day — if possible. Whether the boycott, which is chiefly aimed at larger corporations like Amazon, Target and Walmart, reached the broader public is hard to determine.
“We can’t know how effective it is going to be unless we try it,” said Judy Eskin, co-leader of the Andover group which has thousands of chapters around the country. “People really want to make their voices heard and this is a relatively easy thing for people to do.”
Different groups promoted different versions of the blackout with some limiting the boycott to strictly chain stores, while also not permitting online shopping or nonessential purchases with credit or debit cards.
The People’s Union U.S.A, the group credited with the idea, describes itself as a nonpartisan organization aiming to combat corporate greed and power, according to its website. While it does not appear that the group was widely known before the boycott, its message made it all around the country.
“This stuff just spreads,” said Eskin. “This information has kind of gone viral, at least I am hoping it did.”
Many people have been itching to get involved, but have been struggling to come up with the how, she explained.
“People are begging for something that they can do,” she said.
Eskin said she was particularly frustrated with Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, and his new power to drastically cut spending, particularly on aid, based on allegations of widespread fraud and waste.
“It’s just so cruel,” she said. “We are trying to make the point that people do not want to put up these super rich guys running things.”
Other activists had different primary aims for the boycott.
Demet Haksever, coordinator at Greater Haverhill Indivisible, explained she was motivated in particular by large corporations’ decisions in recent months to roll back initiatives supporting diversity, equity and inclusion.
She added Greater Haverhill Indivisible is a grassroots organization and boasts about 800 members by a count on Facebook.
Unsurprisingly, due to the nature of the blackout, of about a dozen or so shoppers leaving the Market Basket at 350 Winthrop Ave., North Andover, interviewed on Friday, the majority were unaware of the protest. The handful of shoppers who were aware were participating in varying ways such as by pausing online shopping while still buying groceries.
Liam Ryan, a 19-year old from North Andover was supportive of the boycott, but said it would only work if everyone got on board. He expressed concerns that certain generations would not partake.
Ashley Pancorbo, also of North Andover, said despite being plugged into other planned protests and politics she had not heard of the blackout.
Responding to a request for comment, a spokesperson for Rep. Tram Nguyen D-Andover, said her office did not have a position on the protest.
The overall aim of the organizing was to disrupt the economy and show who really holds the power, according to the People’s Union U.S.A.
Eskin said Greater Andover Indivisible’s numbers have grown significantly following the start of the new presidential administration. She added members seem to be bringing in their friends, something that was far less common before.
The boycott began at midnight Thursday and ended at midnight Friday night.
For some activists, the day represented only the beginning of national boycotts.
“I doubt this is going to be the only one,” said Eskin.