"Everyday People," a diverse group of Charlestonians and Charleston-based groups — including many prominent faith bodies, political and grassroots organizations, activists, and community leaders — are calling on all Americans to join them in a monetary boycott they're calling "Fasting Fridays."
The boycott was coordinated as a response to the anniversary of the mass shooting at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, that mass shooter's hope that white nationalists would take over the federal government and rescue him, and what the group deems a white nationalist takeover of the federal government. The group's demand is to remove "white supremacists in power anywhere on this land" and their call to action to achieve their goal is to abstain from spending money each and every Friday.
"Here in America, we are all forced to live in the shadow of white supremacist and white nationalist violence, from mass shootings in Charleston, Buffalo, Colorado Springs, Pittsburgh, and Orlando to the ongoing racist violence of policing and incarceration," said Rev. Adam Shoemaker, the other Everyday People co-chair. "We've had enough. While it's true that Everyday People don't have the money those in power have, collectively, our money matters, and we'll withhold it every Friday until we no longer smart under the uneven and brutal rule of white supremacists anywhere on this land."
While the primary demand is broad and big, the group has put forth ten benchmarks aimed at the federal government to gauge progress. These benchmarks include demands around DEI, reproductive rights, trans health and safety, immigration, policing, disability justice, education, economic justice, Palestine, and the environment.
"Every day, white supremacists kidnap Everyday People who also happen to be immigrants," said Rev. Charles Heyward, one of the co-chairs of Everyday People. "Every day, white supremacists work to erase jobs, fundings, and resources from programs. Everyday People rely on the Department of Education, Social Security, Section 8, SNAP, and Medicaid. Every day, white supremacists devise policies that further threaten the health and survival of Everyday People on this planet by refusing to care for the land that sustains us, opening it up to more environmental and climate changes that bring on more irreparable harm."
The group's kickoff event will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. Originally slated to begin at the site where the Calhoun Statue once stood, followed by a march to City Hall and a press conference, the city has refused to grant the group a permit to meet. The group is appealing their permit denial. At the time of this release, their kickoff event has been moved to the steps of Lance Hall at Circular Congregation Church at 150 Meeting Street on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., where the group will present their demands and invite residents to join them in their Friday Fasts.
You can learn more about the group at everydaypeoplefast.com.