TikTokkers call for a Mother's Day Strike to protect abortion rights
TikTokker akcrucial has proposed a week-long strike beginning Sunday, May 8 in reaction to the draft majority opinion from the Supreme Court that would strike down Roe v. Wade leaked to Politico earlier this week. According to an official website, the Mother's Day Strike would "break the economy over the course of one week" as "everyone who will suffer immensely and possibly die under the right-wing extremists repeal of Roe v. Wade" abstains from work, shopping, and entertaining.
"Our human rights have gotten stripped away to the point where protest doesn't really do a whole lot anymore," said TikTokker @graceotto0 in a video about the strike. "The only language America speaks is money and exploitation so let's show them how integral we are to this system."
The official website for the strike also includes action options for those for whom striking is impossible or dangerous: stocking up on groceries before the strike begins, spreading the word on social media, donating to vetted organizations, and supporting those who are striking.
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"The ask is great. The sacrifice is necessary," the site reads. "It will not be in vain."
According to akcrucial's initial TikTok, the strike is inspired by Iceland's 1975 national women's strike, in which "90 percent of women in the country decided to demonstrate their importance by going on strike," according to the BBC.
Since akcrucial's initial post yesterday, the hashtag #mothersdaystrike has gained 2.5 million views on TikTok as creators duet their post or promote the strike in their own videos.
You can see a list of abortion funds and reproductive justice networks to donate to right here.
Elizabeth is a digital culture reporter covering the internet's influence on self-expression, fashion, and fandom. Her work explores how technology shapes our identities, communities, and emotions. Before joining Mashable, Elizabeth spent six years in tech. Her reporting can be found in Rolling Stone, The Guardian, TIME, and Teen Vogue. Follow her on Instagram here.
