Macy's Apology and the Importance of Direct Action
As Mary Snyder at QueerToday has already announced to the blogosphere, Macy's CEO Ron Klein has admitted the store made a mistake by removing the mannequins from the Gay Pride display in it's Downtown Crossing store. According to an "exclusive interview" with In Newsweekly:
Klein blamed "an internal breakdown in communication," and declared that the controversial mannequins "were not removed because of pressure."
Rather, Klein says that it's not store policy to use mannequins in community displays such as this one, "because the introduction of merchandise has no role in our tributes." Nonetheless, he apologized for the appearance that Macy's caved to a fringe right wing group, and in an open-letter to the Gay community reaffirmed his company's support for "diversity and inclusiveness."
In his response at QueerToday, Mark writes:
In this new apology Macy's met three of QueerToday's four demands. They apologized, admitted they were wrong, and renewed their support of our community.
The mannequins should have been returned immediately, but I consider this apology to our community a victory over the efforts of Amy Contrada, Brian Camenker, and their little group of hateful friends. Clearly the power of boycott and protest continues to be an effective tool that the LGBT community should embrace.
I agree wholeheartedly with Mark and was honored to take part in the protest last Sunday. Too often in the United States today we're told that compromise is only way to make effective change. While our legislative system may be premised on the need for compromise, some of the most radical and important changes in our nation's history have come through direct action. Think about the Montgomery Bus Boycott or the Lawrence textile strike. While the use of direct action has waned in this country in recent decades, in a system so dependent on the almighty dollar, our ability to withhold capital is one of the most important tools we have.
On another note, I believe this In Newsweekly article is the first mention of View from the 'Bridge in the print media:
Next to her is 25-year-old Jesse Kanson-Benanav. He runs "View from the Bridge," a blog devoted to Cambridge politics. Kanson-Benanav is forgiving about the size and intensity of the protest.
"It's an issue of timing," he said, "Sunday mornings are tough for anyone."
Wow... what an insightful comment I had. Seriously, this was not the best I had. Problem is, somehow the reporter found out I was Jewish and insisted on asking me only about progressive politics in the Jewish community. I had some interesting things to say, I think, but since it had nothing to do with the issue at hand of course it didn't make it into the article...
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