On Tuesday, November 25, 2025, a nationwide economic protest dubbed “The Mass Blackout” will begin, urging Americans to refrain from consumer activity during the traditionally high-spending period encompassing Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. Organized by grassroots coalitions such as 50501, Indivisible, and Blackout the System, the initiative calls for a halt to purchases from major corporations including Walmart, Amazon, Target, Starbucks, and McDonald’s. Participants are encouraged to avoid travel, suspend use of streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu, and refrain from routine work activities.
The movement, which spans from November 25 to December 2, 2025, emphasizes collective resistance against what it describes as corporate dominance and political corruption. According to organizers, the protest is not aligned with partisan politics but rather represents a broader societal pushback against concentrated power. The campaign promotes intentional use of social media platforms—such as Instagram, Facebook, X, and TikTok—for organizing and awareness, using hashtags like #MassBlackout, #MBO, and #BlackoutForDemocracy, while discouraging entertainment-based engagement.
Supporters are advised to redirect spending toward locally owned businesses, especially on Small Business Saturday, November 29, and to contribute to charitable causes such as Feeding America instead of fueling large retail profits. The protest coincides with the “Black Friday Cyber Week Blackout,” a related initiative by The People’s Union USA running from November 28 to December 5, previously led by activist John Schwarz in earlier DEI-focused economic actions.
Organizers argue that the boycott is not symbolic but aims for tangible economic impact. Isaiah Rucker Jr., founder of Blackout the System, stated that the U.S. political framework is heavily influenced by corporate interests, allowing powerful entities to shape policy. They cite the Trump administration’s rollback of anti-corruption enforcement as enabling unchecked corporate misconduct, including bribery and erosion of labor rights and civil liberties.
Estimates suggest that if five million individuals abstain from work for 48 hours, billions in economic output could be lost, disrupting supply chains and production. A prior three-day action earlier in 2025, known as “Economic Blackout 2.0,” reportedly had measurable effects on sales at major retailers, according to a USA TODAY report.
Recognizing that not everyone can forgo wages, the campaign offers alternative participation methods: canceling subscriptions, avoiding discretionary spending, logging out of entertainment services, spreading the message online, or donating to nonprofits.
— news from Bergen Record
— News Original —
“Mass Blackout” protest targets Black Friday, Cyber Monday. Here’s why
Consumers nationwide Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, will take part in an economic blackout through Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday, with organizers of the “Mass Blackout” protest targeting major retailers like Walmart, Amazon and Target, and restaurants like Starbucks and McDonald ‘s. Americans are also urged to avoid travel, stop watching TV and movies on streaming, and to skip work. n nThe mass economic shutdown, arising from a coalition of grassroots organizations including 50501, Indivisible and Blackout the System. Organizers of the economic blackouts are demanding an “end to corporate rule and political corruption” with the removal of “fascist” President Donald Trump and his administration, according to a news release on TheMassBlackout.com. n nAmericans are asked not to shop in-store or online on Black Friday 2025 and Cyber Monday 2025, avoid travel, restaurants and normal consumer behavior, as well as call out of work or skip work, cancel subscription services, stop all streaming services, and only use Instagram, Facebook, X and TikTok for intentional, non-entertainment reasons. n nThe economic blackout, using #MassBlackout on social media, isn ‘t about Republican vs. Democrat, and instead “people vs. power,” organizers say. Shopping is OK at locally owned businesses on Small Business Saturday, which is Nov. 29. Instead of “feeding big corporations,” organizers urge Americans to donate to Feeding America, or other charitable organizations. n nHere ‘s what New Jersey shoppers should know. n nEconomic blackout 2025; when does ‘Mass Blackout ‘ start? n nThe economic blackout protest, dubbed “The Mass Blackout” by organizers including 50501, Indivisible, and Blackout the System, starts Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. The protest continues through Black Friday (Nov. 28) and Cyber Monday (Dec. 1), and ends on Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. n nThe protest coincides with “Black Friday Cyber Week Blackout, a campaign launched by The People ‘s Union USA from Nov. 28 through Dec. 5. The organizer, John Schwarz, was behind prior DEI-related economic blackouts earlier in 2025. n nWhat is included in ‘Mass Blackout ‘ protest? What to know n nDuring the “Mass Blackout,” between Nov. 25 and Dec. 2, Americans are asked to not spend any money or shop at major retailers on Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, like Walmart, Target, Costco and Amazon, skip major coffeehouses like Starbucks and Dunkin ‘, forgo restaurants, like McDonald ‘s new “Grinch” meal for a day, and cancel streaming on Netflix, Hulu, or Peacock. n nAll consumer-driven activity, such as flights and travel on Thanksgiving and through the next eight days — Uber and Lyft rides included — should be avoided. Organizers say staying home reduces labor demand and amplifies visibility. n nOrganizers ask people to only use social media intentionally, such as to organize and spread the message by using #MassBlackout, #MBO, #MB, #BlockParty, and #BlackoutForDemocracy. n nWhy be part of an economic boycott? n nOrganizers of “The Mass Blackout” 2025 urges Americans to put away their wallets and not spend money during the busiest and most profitable shopping week of the year: Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It ‘s not symbolic, Isaiah Rucker Jr., founder of Blackout the System said; rather, Americans are “living under a political system captured by special interests, where billionaires and corporations write the rules.” n nOrganizers cited the Trump administration ‘s pause on anti-corruption enforcement, which they say gave corporations “a free pass to bribe, cheat, and exploit. Big businesses are funding authoritarian candidates, organizers claim, walking back civil rights, labor protections, diversity and democracy.” Many economic protests in 2025 focused on companies rolling back their DEI programs, including Target. n nHow to shop on Black Friday during boycott n nConsumers are urged to shop at local businesses for their Thanksgiving necessities (farmer ‘s markets, locally owned grocery stores, deli or markets) by using cash only. Shop at small businesses on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday for Christmas and holiday gifts. n nDo economic blackouts work? n nIt’s tough to gauge the impact of economic boycotts, but organizers say that if five million Americans stop working for 48 hours, billions would be lost in economic input, supply chains would be delayed, and production slowed and shipments disrupted. After 72 hours, there would be billions withheld in consumer activity and immediate losses across food, transportation and entertainment. n nThe three-day “Economic Blackout 2.0,” organized by The People ‘s Union USA between Good Friday and Easter 2025, had “some potential impact” on sales for large retailers including Target, Walmart and Amazon, according to a USA TODAY report. n nWhat if I can ‘t take off work? n nNot everyone can afford to take off work and skip a paycheck. Organizers say participates can instead cancel their subscriptions, halt spending, log off entertainment platforms, share the “Mass Blackout” campaign, or donate to charity. n nLori Comstock is a New Jersey-based journalist with the Mid-Atlantic Connect Team.