American Coatings Association

ACA has been made aware that one of the latest Occupy movement activities, ‘Shut Down the Corporations,’ is scheduled nationwide for Feb. 29. The movement calls for non‐violent, direct action against members, and past members of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), with particular focus on board member companies.

According to the website associated with the Occupy movements, ‘Shut Down the Corporations “calls for a national day of non‐violent, direct action to reclaim our voices and challenge our society’s obsession with profit and greed by shutting down the corporations.”

Local authorities around the country are aware of the movement, and ACA has communicated directly with specific member companies to notify them of the ‘Shut Down the Corporations’ effort.

Authorities are saying that they have no information of direct threats and are disseminating information for ‘situational awareness only,’ but that companies should be aware of ‘Shut Down the Corporations.’

Reports circulated by authorities suggest that protest organizers recommend using tactics such as sit‐ins, strikes, blockades, boycotts, banner drops, culture jamming, and performance.

The ‘Shut Down the Corporations’ movement originated in Portland, Oregon, but the website indicates that protests are planned for over 50 cities nationwide, including Riverside, Long Beach, Santa Cruz, Las Vegas, Buffalo, Crown Heights and Brooklyn, coordinated cities in Connecticut, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Tulsa, Richmond, Austin, Phoenix, Provo, Minneapolis, Dayton, Kansas City, Newark, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Medford, Hampton Roads, San Diego, Hilo, Eugene, Madison, Ashville, Corvallis, Fargo Moorhead, New Brunswick, Gainesville, Pasadena, New York City, Des Moines, Santa Fe, Ventura County, Los Angeles, Orange County, Washington D.C., Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Albuquerque, Huntington and Savannah.

The movement’s “Call to Action,” may be found at: http://www.shutdownthecorporations.org/?page_id=21.