#GeneralStrikeJan20

A couple of members of the Russian punk group Pussy Riot were in town for an appearance at the University of Wisconsin Student Union Thursday (read about it here). One of them, Masha Alekhina (Мария Алехина, @MashaAlekhina), showed up at Friday's Solidarity Singalong at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. More people came to the singalong than usual, including me. I'm not much for singalongs, and didn't sing along with this one, though I have in the past. I prefer to keep whatever solidarity I have to myself, for the most part.

Pussy Riot is an all-girl band that has staged a number of outlandish stunts in Moscow, most notably in 2012, when five of them, including Мария Алехина (Masha Alekhina), appeared at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Protesting the church's support for Russian president Vladimir Putin, they tried to perform a song, but were thwarted by security personnel. A video of the stunt can be seen here. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Masha (Maria) Alyokhina were arrested, tried, and both spent 21 months in prison for "hooliganism motivated by religious hatred."

Now they are worldwide folk heroes, and are traveling around planet to spread their message of freedom and resistance. Hence the visit to Madison.

I was inspired, and came up with the idea of a worldwide general strike on Inauguration Day. I tried out the hashtag #GeneralStrikeJan20 on Twitter today, and sure enough, someone else had already come up with the idea. Not to worry. I don't need "credit." It would be a great response to the phony Trump election, and would give notice to him and his henchpersons that the world does not accept them as legitimate rulers of the U.S. Federal Government in any way, shape or form, that we mean what we say, and that we can make their occupation of office a painful tenure.

The Trump regime is already an awful gang of low-level human beings, so they deserve nothing but disdain and opposition. A general strike of one day would serve notice. Should it last longer, they would be served more than notice. A week's-long general strike, and there would be no more Donald J. Trump regime. They will cave.
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Here's a song. I haven't thought of this song in a while. The Who.  Here's a Redemption Song. Ashes, ashes, all fall down. The Revolution Will Not Be Televised. It will take volunteers. We can create a better world. Trying to make it real. The cast of "Hamilton" didn't throw away their shot last night. Here's a song to sing while we wait for the Trump volcano to blow.

Here's Pussy Riot at Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Savior Cathedral. This video shows the Solidarity Singalong in Madison on Friday with Мария Алехина. Here's another news story about her appearance. And another video.