I didn't do any Black Thursday or Black Friday shopping this past weekend. I was visiting family and pretty much out in the sticks. But even if I was home, I probably wouldn't be shopping. I cannot stand the crowds. But the local Press-Citizen had a story about what others in the Iowa City/Coralville area were doing on these special shopping days.
A handful of shoppers were interviewed, but there were also several paragraphs devoted to a member from my church, as she protested with others against low-wages and rampant commericialism:
A handful of shoppers were interviewed, but there were also several paragraphs devoted to a member from my church, as she protested with others against low-wages and rampant commericialism:
A few hours later Friday, Ann Zerkel, a member of Faith United Church of Christ in Iowa City, helped organize a protest outside the Iowa City Walmart Supercenter. Up to two dozen people stood along Highway 1 holding signs that read, "Respect = Living Wage,""Can't Survive on $7.25" and "Low Wages Hurt America."Incidentally, Faith UCC will be holding its annual Alternative Christmas Sale tomorrow morning following worship services. Pretty much everything is homegrown and/or homemade and the proceeds all go to benefit Heifer International. Faith UCC is located at1609 DeForest Avenue in Iowa City. Worship services begin at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning. Faith UCC is an open, affirming, just-peace, accessible to all, economic justice covenant congregation.
"We picked this day because it traditionally is a shopping day, and we expect to see and be seen by a significant number of people," said Zerkel, who co-organized the protest along with the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa and the Iowa City Federation of Labor.
As cars passed by, Iowa City resident Jim Walters — who held a sign that read, "Honk for Higher Wages"— said: "Listen to 'em honk. They've been honking all day."