Wednesday, February 04, 2009

Boycott the "bamn" Boycott

The professional 70's style protest group "bamn", which is hassling local shoppers trying to patronize downtown Ferndale businesses, claims to be trying to reform the region's education system. They wish to either combine all the local systems into one giant district or get inter-county schools of choice. To this end, they have targeted one successful magnet school in Ferndale that attracts about 400 students, claiming it is somehow segregated.

(See previous post from last month)

Bamn is pleased that they have begun to hurt our local economy, and have ramped up their protests at several local popular businesses and landmark downtown locations in Ferndale.

They even tried to boycott the Blues Festival (They failed at that...big time !)

Since our Constitution guarantees free speech, there is little we can do to counter their bully tactics and misplaced anger. But one thing we can do is patronize the businesses that are being targeted. Boycott the boycott.

Nothing will deflate the tired rhetoric of bamn (I have decided to only use lower case letters for their acronym, they are not deserving of capital letters) than to negate the very tactics that they use.

So....Let's spend some of our money in the businesses that are being picketed by bamn. Go to Western Market and buy your produce, meat, and groceries. (It is a great store anyway.)
Have dinner and or drinks at Como's or Dino's. Buy some items from Dollar Castle and or The Record Collector. Let's fight fire with fire. Buy local. Support our local businesses.

6 Comments:

At 3:19 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I had to trip around these loud mouths on my way in to Western Market last night. Now that I know a little more about their aggressive, unfriendly, bullying strong arm tactics with the places I love and do business with by reading it in papers all over town, I'll be sure and get the word out that they don't stand for anything but causing trouble and seeing their names in the paper if possible; a bunch of attention mongers with a phony cause to lean their bull horn against. This group is fast becoming unwelcome in our little community. There are a lot of ways to get things done in this new and progressive age, with love and open understanding. Screaming with shrill voices like angry, unfocused fingers on a blackboard isn't going to be one that I will never find all that compelling.

 
At 6:29 PM, Blogger Craig Covey said...

Well said, Mark.

They need to find lives and focus on actual support and efforts to improve schools for all children through truly productive ways.

 
At 1:22 PM, Blogger Matt N said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 
At 1:23 PM, Blogger Matt N said...

Is there a way to set-up a network to know when the protestors are out in Ferndale? If so, I would be sure to shop at these businesses specifically when bamn is out protesting.

This is a perfect example of people fighting a fight they think they can win vs. fighitning a fight that is just!

Just a thought....

 
At 9:52 AM, Blogger Brandon said...

What a frustrating story! Glad to hear that you are fighting back, though, by promoting local businesses!

People should also consider making local purchases in Ferndale, Royal Oak, etc. before clicking on-line. Check out my post at www.urbaneblog.com on this topic:

http://www.urbaneapts.com/urbanereflections-blog/?p=717

 
At 6:41 PM, Blogger Tom Gagne said...

Matt N,

If you want to be notified when BAMN next appears in downtown Ferndale, send me an email (on my blogger profile). My wife, Tiffani, will put your email address her list of people to notify. She's often called by store owners when BAMN shows up and often sends an email letting other store owners and citizens know.

 

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