by Meghan Searl
Hello neighbors. Great to see you for our very first Medford May Day Event. I’m Meghan Searl, one of the co-leaders of Mystic Mashup Indivisible. Our table is over there – please say hi.
I’ll start by asking the question – Why are we here together in this way, on this day?
- First, we’re here to celebrate our community – to spend time together, learn together, and show support for what so many of us care about – our local businesses, our neighbors, the kids in our community. We’re getting to know each other – in person. And we’re here to have fun together.
- But why today when we could have done this on any day?
Having a day of action and celebration on May Day was an intentional choice. These are unprecedented times. We’re faced with deeply concerning news stories on a daily basis. It’s really easy to feel alone and powerless.
This year, May Day is about more than workers’ rights and labor- it’s about looking head on at this moment in history. It’s a time to consider how we can respond to what we see – the abuses of power, the incompetence, the corruption, the hollowing out of democratic institutions. It’s a time to pause and say, “Enough is enough.”
You might say – “I’ve been saying that for a while – and it hasn’t made enough of a difference.” And I would say “I agree.”
This is where nationwide proposals for noncooperation come in. Noncooperation means saying to someone in authority, “I don’t like what you’re up to, so I’m going to do something that will cost you. I’m inviting all my friends to do it with me. We’ll keep it up until you have agreed to make a change.”
We need effective ways of pushing back against our government, particularly as we approach the November midterm elections. Not going to work or school, not shopping, and other noncooperation tactics like boycotts – can actually disrupt the infrastructure that supports authoritarianism.
But jumping right into work stoppages or having kids stay home from school feels like a lot to ask for most people. I’ve heard friends say, “I don’t want to do that” and “That’s not going to work for me or my family.”
The organizers who proposed No Work, No School, No Shopping know that most Americans are not ready for this right now. We’re not used to it – it’s not part of our national culture. We don’t have the infrastructure to support people when they take these steps.
Knowing Americans weren’t quite ready, they proposed these goals anyway. Because it’s an important starting place, a first step – a way to try out specific actions, like we did today, and to start conversations. To ask – what DO we want to do as a community in response to what concerns us most? How can we learn what’s possible, make use of our untapped power, and build a culture of mutual support? And how can we link up with communities across the country doing similar things?
So, all of this is why we are here today. We are the ones with the power to turn this situation around, but we have to do it together. So let’s move forward and keep today’s energy going. Let’s find regular ways to come together, connect, and find joy in our shared community. And let’s continue the conversation about Medford’s role in disrupting what supports our authoritarian government and moving toward a functioning and more inclusive democracy.
Thank you.