Occupy Santa Ana Flash Mob Asks Walmart Workers to Call in Sick on Black Friday

Occupy Santa Ana kicked off the holiday season by holding a pair of flash mobs at the checkout lines of Walmarts in Santa Ana and Orange last night. The protestors asked the workers to call in sick on Black Friday, when many retailers are opening up — and asking workers to come in — as early as midnight.

The group posted grainy cell phone videos of the flash mob on Facebook here and here. The group offered up their message in their signature "human mic" format — one person yelled and the others repeated the message:

It is wrong that the corporation you work for is making you come to work in the middle of the night when you should be at home with your family. It is wrong that their profits soar while you struggle to make ends meet. Walmart is exploiting your services and they are undercompensating you for it. This too is wrong. We strongly urge you to call in sick on Black Friday. We strongly urge you to call in sick on Black Friday. You are the 99 percent and we support you.

Apparently, many workers at Walmart didn't get the message that the flash-mobbers were hoping for, according to the Orange County Register. One worker called it "stupid" and another called it "disrespectful." A third thought it was part of an effort to unionize the store. But at least one shopper got the message and marched out with the mob in solidarity.