Occupy, Unions, 99% Power Converge On GE Shareholders Meeting in Detroit

View from inside the GE shareholders meeting

Thousands of protesters have descended on the General Electric shareholders meeting in Detroit for the second day, including members of Occupy Detroit, unions, and activists from 99% Power, a new coalition of labor, immigrant, and community groups. On Tuesday, protestors successfully disrupted GE CEO Jeff Immelt's speech to demand GE pay the over $26 billion in back taxes they owed. Today, as protesters massed outside, large numbers of shareholders sympathetic to Occupy chanted ¨pay your fair share¨ inside the meeting itself. Today's action in Detroit comes after yesterday's shutdown of a Wells Fargo shareholder meeting by at least 2,000 activists from Occupy San Francisco and 99% Power. This upswing in action can mean only one thing: May Day is coming.

Keep reading for details on Detroit's plans for May 1st.

via Occupy Detroit:

In support of labor and immigrant rights, on May 1st, 2012, we are organizing a mass participatory and bold collective action: a transnational general strike, mass boycott, student strike/walk-out and mass day of action. We urge all to hold a one-day general strike and come together in solidarity for a day of art, expression and rallies.

At work: organize people to call in sick. In school: organize a walk-out. In your community: participate in a mass boycott and refuse to make any purchase on May Day. Take the street. Take the day off. The assaults against labor and immigrants attack democracy. To counter the erosion of rights won through protest by labor, the worldwide protests on May Day reject the cycle of increased corporatization and privatization of resources.

For more information on the day’s events, go to http://www.generalstrikedetroit.info.

WHAT:
On May 1, 2012 Occupy Detroit urges all to celebrate May Day and support our ability to determine how to work by not working, shopping, or attending classes in solidarity with labor.

WHERE:
Noon: Assemble at corner of Clark Park at West Vernon Highway & Clark Street (near I-75)
1 pm: Rally at Maybury Elementary School, 4410 Porter Street
1:30 pm: Leave Maybury Elementary marching on West Vernon Highway
2:00 pm: Rally at train station, Roosevelt Park at West Vernon Highway and Michigan Avenue 2:30 pm: Leave train station on Michigan Avenue
3:15 pm: Rally at Federal Building
3:45 pm: Leave Federal Building
4:00 pm: Rally at Rosa Parks Transit Center, 360 Michigan Avenue
4:30 pm: Leave Rosa Parks Transit Center
4:30 pm: Start assembling at Grand Circus Park for food and music
6:30 pm: General assembly at Grand Circus Park near the Hazen S. Pingree monument

WHO:
Children, parents, students, teachers, laborers, artists, mechanics, activists, farmers, pastors, bakers, tailors, writers: anyone and everyone.