The banner, in all its glory

The banner, in all its glory

The Black Friday banner drop at The Westchester represents a stand against the mindless consumption of the Christmas season and commodification of culture at the expense of workers and the environment. We of the Westchester Rebel Alliance believe that consumerism and gentrification are two sides of the same coin, that the chaos of Black Friday is a nightmare for the mall’s underpaid workers to the benefit of its chains’ bottom-line, and that the presence of an upscale mall such as The Westchester in a historically working-class area raises housing prices and drives local stores out of business, forcing residents to move out of White Plains and sacrificing their vital input in the community. The slogan on our banner, “Stop Sweatshop Slavery,” signifies solidarity with our oppressed brothers and sisters in developing countries who made the products suburban shoppers arrived to snap up.

We call out to the citizens of White Plains on these issues. Consumerist culture and the proliferation of high-end businesses are making the city’s environment hostile to its working class. Join us in standing against the “redevelopment” of the Post Road corridor, the creation of a mini-Manhattan in Westchester, and the glaring economic and racial divide that splits the county. Activism focused on diverse but related issues can raise awareness and bring positive change to this city. By shopping at national corporate chains you guarantee that the money you spend will skip town and head straight into CEOs’ pockets. Buying the same items from a local business helps keep that money in the hands of the people who need it most, our hardworking neighbors, who will then spend it to improve the lives of everyone around us. Sweatshop labor and gentrification are one and the same problem: classist abuse of power from Asian garment factories to Post Road.