GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. (AP) -- Occupy protesters in Grand Junction are hoping to convince shoppers to stay away from large retailers during the holidays.
Members plan to demonstrate at the Mesa Mall on Thanksgiving night as shoppers line up for Black Friday deals.
Their message is "Buy local or buy nothing." Activist Jesse Montoya said they will be encouraging people to spend their money at local businesses, instead of national chains, as a way to help the local economy.
Other Occupy groups around the country are also planning Black Friday demonstrations but the efforts don't appear to be coordinated.
Grand Junction's chamber of commerce has its own buy-local campaign but president Diane Schwenke told the Grand Junction Sentinel that national retailers still help the local economy by providing jobs and paying taxes.
(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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