Dear,

More than 160,000 small businesses have shut down since the beginning of the pandemic -- and California’s business have been hit hardest. In fact, six of eight of the cities with the most business closures are in the Golden State.(1)

But while our neighbors are losing jobs and their family stores, Amazon is raking in money. The mega corporation made $10 billion during last month’s Prime Day alone.(2) Meanwhile, its employees are hurting from its terrible business practices and quest for even higher profits.

This holiday season, it’s more important than ever that we commit to shopping local -- whether online or in person -- and stop Amazon from claiming all of the profits during Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Will you pledge to #BlackOutBezos on Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year and shop local instead?

Obviously, being able to shop on Amazon is convenient. The platform sells everything, and most of it arrives in just two days.

But there are so many reasons not to shop Amazon. The corporation was caught purposely stealing product ideas in order to put third-party merchants out of business.(3) Nearly 20,000 of its warehouse workers contracted COVID-19 due to its practices, and employees are twice as likely to be injured than in other similar jobs.(4) And the CEO is amassing a level of wealth never before seen in America.(5)

Amazon will never change until we hit Bezos where it hurts -- in his profit margins. That’s why we’re organizing this boycott for two of the biggest shopping days of the year.

Here is what we’re asking of you:

1. Sign our pledge to boycott Amazon on November 27 and 30 -- Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Instead, check out local businesses and take advantage of local stores’ delivery and curbside pickup options.
2. Share our #BlackOutBezos images (like the one above!) and our pledge form on social media and encourage your friends and family to shop local this season.
3. Let your social media circles know about your favorite local shops, restaurants, and artisans they should visit and support instead of shopping Amazon.

This holiday season, you can support your neighbors while sending a strong message to Amazon. Be sure to #BlackOutBezos this Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Click here to sign our pledge!

Yours in the fight against corporate power,

Irene, along with Angela, Annie, Caitlin, Deepthi, Gabby, Jay, Lindsay, Molly, Raquel, and Scottie (the Courage team)

Footnotes:
1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/christiankreznar/2020/09/16/small-businesses-are-closing-at-a-rapid-pace-with-restaurants-and-retailers-on-the-west-coast-among-the-hardest-hit/?sh=5ab4aff45033
2. https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/article/amazon-prime-day-sales/
3. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/06/technology/amazon-apple-facebook-google-antitrust-report.html
4. https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/amazon-responds-accusations-about-warehouse-worker-safety-shows-covid-19-changes/4Z664MLBDFAF3ASZ5SRKM4JDXU/
5. https://act.couragecampaign.org/go/36461?t=20&akid=11057%2E3168579%2EyNoSBv's%20wealthiest?no_redirect=1