Epic Anti-Target Protest - "Target Ain't People"

[The Vegan Marxist]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FhMMmqzbD8&feature=player_embedded

This was so entertaining to watch & yet very serious to understand.

[Adi Shankara]

This seems like a bourgeoisie protest. I can think of so many other reasons to protest target (primarily their anti-union stances) but the fact that people only care about what Target does when they do something like this explains the sad state of worker relations in America.

[The Vegan Marxist]

This seems like a bourgeoisie protest. I can think of so many other reasons to protest target (primarily their anti-union stances) but the fact that people only care about what Target does when they do something like this explains the sad state of worker relations in America.

They were protesting Target's anti-worker fundings. How is this bourgeoisie?

[Start a Fire]

Flash mob and protesting. Two awesome things combined into one. :thumbup1:

[Nachie]

please stop using "bourgeoisie" as an adjective

[fa2991]

I don't know how useful that was. I doubt most of the people even knew what they were talking about - note that no one followed them out when they left. :p

[Start a Fire]

The people looked like "huh, this is pretty neat!", yet they probably went back to the exact same Target the next week.

[The Vegan Marxist]

As much as a I agree that the people inside shopping still probably shopped, if not then, but the following week, but really, does this mean we or anybody else shouldn't protest what we're against, because those looking in will probably ignore it later on?

[fa2991]

As much as a I agree that the people inside shopping still probably shopped, if not then, but the following week, but really, does this mean we or anybody else shouldn't protest what we're against, because those looking in will probably ignore it later on?

It's a tricky question... do something that won't change anything or do nothing at all? I generally don't think that either is a good thing. Protests like this song seem to be mostly to just make the participants feel useful.

[Start a Fire]

Don't forget that people on the internet will likely be more malleable than Target shoppers. It's probably made more of an impact to youtube viewers than Target shoppers.

[The Vegan Marxist]

^ That's actually a good point. It was just posted on youtube a couple days ago & it's already got almost 60,000 views.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I'm just surprised they weren't instantly kicked out, I've been kicked out of Walmart for throwing nerf footballs around with friends, the fact that they weren't made to get out in 3+ minutes while protesting inside the belly of the beast makes me wonder...

[La Comédie Noire]

I thought it was entertaining and got the message across, but they should have handed out fliers with information and lyrics so people could have understood better.

[Nachie]

This is so goddamn lame, why on earth is anyone describing it as "epic"?

People on this website blog the day away about armed struggle and SUPER DUPER PROLETARIAN movements in other parts of the world but then in the US we're supposed to support this totally bullshit liberal white college activist theatre?

Seriously?

[bricolage]

'our democracy'
'our country'
'take america back'

[blake 3:17]

I love it! Thanks!

[The Red Next Door]

'our democracy'
'our country'
'take america back'

Yeah, it was cool, but really, we never had a democracy in the first place.

[bricolage]

I do find it interesting that the word 'liberal' is regularly thrown around here at anyone that doesn't support various armed groups or various 'workers states' whereas a protest like this and the discourse its framed in is arguably one of the most liberal things to be seen on this forum in a long time yet receives no such response.

I also think the dichotomy that Nachie mentions is interesting. I highly doubt the people in this youtube video would be happy to be associated with say North Korea or Shining Path, and I understand (although I don't necessarily agree with) the argument that conditions are different in the US and the 'Third World', impacting upon tactics, but why does it leave the US situation utterly reduced to liberal reformism and consumer politics? It seems rather strange but maybe suggests something about the politics of many here; the Global South as a far away and mystical land is a place for romantic guerillas and bombed out police stations yet to those in the 'First World' they will only ever really exist as internet news stories or blog articles. When the issues are reduced to those more tangiable, those nearer to home the reality is very different and individuals people are less eager to propose a radical break with the status quo. Perhaps...

[bailey_187]

Im embarrassed to be considerd on the same side of the political spectrum as these guys tbh

[durhamleft]

Those of you blasting into this protest may have not realised this but you're more likely to get people interested if you make your demos innovative and eye catching- I can guarantee you more people will follow their cause than if they'd stood outside waving a fucking placard. Feel free to sit back and wank off over dreams of a proletariat uprising where we all take arms and storm the bourgeoisie but in the 21st century that won't get you far.

And as far as people laying into them for being 'liberal', sure they may be, but that doesn't mean their cause isn't a good one. I support Hamas in their struggle against Israel, but it doesnt mean I support their regime.

[Pretty Flaco]

the whole charade reminded me of grease... that damned john travolta

[bricolage]

I can guarantee you more people will follow their cause than if they'd stood outside waving a fucking placard.
I'm not denying that.


Feel free to sit back and wank off over dreams of a proletariat uprising where we all take arms and storm the bourgeoisie but in the 21st century that won't get you far.Actually the person that started this thread in praise of the protest is actually one of the posters on this forum most supportive of armed struggles, defintely the most supportive of all the people in this thread. I also know a number of people in this thread who have been critical of the protest are also critical of 'dreams of a proletariat uprising where we all take arms and storm the bourgeoisie'. I know I certainly am.


And as far as people laying into them for being 'liberal', sure they may be, but that doesn't mean their cause isn't a good one.Do you think 'taking back' America is a good cause? Is reclaiming US 'democracy' a good cause? Is consumer politics a good cause? Is 'our country' (which by default promotes the idea of national unity, ie. class collaboration) a good cause?
The whole thing is based on the unfounded premise of a homogenous 'our'; our democracy, our country.
You think its 'our democracy' to workers on minimum wage? To black Americans, Muslims, migrants etc etc, getting fucked over by the cops?

We want to destroy nation-states and liberal democracies, not 'reclaim' them.

[Tablo]

I thought it was funny. It does seem these people are liberals, but even little things like this are positive. America would have a massive backlash against homosexuals if these guys bombed the target instead.

[bricolage]

America would have a massive backlash against homosexuals if these guys bombed the target instead.
as far as I am aware noone here would consider bombing target a useful tactic, it certainly isn't one that anyone has proposed.

[Lacrimi de Chiciură]

Do you think 'taking back' America is a good cause? Is reclaiming US 'democracy' a good cause? Is consumer politics a good cause? Is 'our country' (which by default promotes the idea of national unity, ie. class collaboration) a good cause?
The whole thing is based on the unfounded premise of a homogenous 'our'; our democracy, our country.
You think its 'our democracy' to workers on minimum wage? To black Americans, Muslims, migrants etc etc, getting fucked over by the cops?

We want to destroy nation-states and liberal democracies, not 'reclaim' them.

But would the song have been as catchy if the lyrics were so ideologically advanced?

The reason people are protesting Target is because of it's donations to Tom Emmer. The song makes the point about corporations controlling elections. Obviously this is the norm though, to be living in a class dictatorship. If the lyrics changed to make your point, the song would no longer be about protesting target, but protesting capitalism (a complex idea). Here they are at least singing about something more immediate: Target donating money to bourgeois anti-union, anti-immigrant, anti-GLBT politicians.

[Tablo]

as far as I am aware noone here would consider bombing target a useful tactic, it certainly isn't one that anyone has proposed.
I understand and I am not saying people here would support that. I said that because someone said we do lame stuff like this in the first world while people in the third word bomb police stations and stuff. :P

[leftace53]

This was catchy. I doubt they made any impact on the shoppers there, but like someone else said, the effect probably stands out more of the video on youtube. There are so many corporations that dip their pen in the political ink. Its pretty disgusting when you really think about it (even if we werent commies) that the anti-gay/generic right wingers get so much monetary backing from a corporation. If I'm not mistaken, some profits of Urban Outfitters go to anti gay candidates as well, and I won't be surprised if profits from the uber religious owners of Forever 21 make it in the hands of bigots.

Where are cheap hipsters like me supposed to buy our clothes?

I had this song in my head for the last little while.

[A Revolutionary Tool]

I think this would be awesome if it was more of a socialist oriented protest but it's entertaining nonetheless and shouldn't be something discouraged. I've gone to plays before that had radical rhetoric in it, people making little musicals like this is awesome. Sure it's not storming the Bastille, but I know a lot of kids in my old theatre class that would be more interested in this than watching a video of people waving a bunch of red flags in the street. Remember when Jack Black, Will Ferral, and other actors made something like this in favor of gay-marriage? That was awesome and got a hell of a lot more attention than people protesting in the street.

[bricolage]

If the lyrics changed to make your point, the song would no longer be about protesting target, but protesting capitalism (a complex idea).
I'm not saying you shouldn't make bigger issues more specific to more local things going on and sure this Target thing sounds like an issue. But you could protest Target donating to anti-union, anti-immigrants, anti-queer politicians but then expand that upwards talk about how it is that corporations are able to hold so much sway over apparently democratic processes, how it is that such ideas that Target sponsor are commonplace, etc etc. It is entirely possible to frame specific and immediate issues in a broader framework, however I wouldn't expect the people in this video to do this because I don't think their framework expands beyond reforming liberal democracy. For example the end goal of this protest is a boycott of Target and ignoring whether this will work or not it in itself is a good indicator of where their politics lie. By proposing a boycott they see the major fault line at the point of consumption and not at the point of production, the agent of social change is thus the consumer and not the worker. Now I'm sure such a framework and way of contextualising the Target issue will get them more supporters than framing it in terms of the bankruptcy of degenerate capitalism but to say this means we should immediately jump of such a framework seems to me more opportunism than anything else.

[Roquentin]

I agree that while interesting and well-meaning this protest misses the point. Yes, it's good they're out demonstrating against donations to anti-union, anti-gay politicians, but when it's done in the name of reclaiming the American myth it's not even a question of tactics anymore. They still seem to think that the problem is so simple to solve as to be able to revert back to an idealized past when US democracy worked. There is no such point. And even on the subject of tactics, portraying a boycott as a solution, while in a certain sense may achieve results, just re-appropriates the rebellion into long-established capitalist structures.

Zizek had a good point in writing that this idealized liberal-democratic era was as much of a utopian fantasy as communism. That doesn't make what this protest wrong, just misguided.

[blake 3:17]

the whole charade reminded me of grease... that damned john travolta

But it's a spoof of a Depeche Mode song, not some 50s sock hoppers!


For example the end goal of this protest is a boycott of Target and ignoring whether this will work or not it in itself is a good indicator of where their politics lie.

From what I can figure out the goal is to apply economic pressure against a huge business financing homophobic politicians.


By proposing a boycott they see the major fault line at the point of consumption and not at the point of production, the agent of social change is thus the consumer and not the worker.

I know you mean well. But it ain't all at the point of production. The Spartacist oppose the international BDS campaign in solidarity with the Palestinian people because it is "liberal" and a form of class collaboration. Whatever.

[blake 3:17]

This is a somewhat similar action done in solidarity with hotel workers in San Francisco.

I think it's great!

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-79pX1IOqPU