Occupy’s April Fool’s: May 1st General Strike Is Canceled! (It’s Not)

Activists tweet that “May Day” is a no-go.

#MayDay just canceled.

— Occupy Steve (@OccupySteve) April 1, 2012

Source: @OccupySteve

A day before April Fool’s Day, the main @OccupyWallSt Twitter account retweeted a tweet from an activist claiming that the May 1st “general strike” — Occupy’s largest planned action this year — had been canceled.

It’s not actually true, though that would have possibly been more clear on April 1st. Sources confirm that the protests are still on (“Did you really just fall for an April Fool’s?”).

People on Twitter were mildly confused, and sometimes even enthusiastic:

This is actually really smart. RT @OccupyWallSt: RT "@RaininEL: #nycga just unanimously decided to cancel #m1 mayday actions #ows"

— Michael Whitney (@michaelwhitney) April 1, 2012

Source: @michaelwhitney

Many feel this: RT @michaelwhitney: I'd much rather decent, realistic actions on April 30 and May 2 than a "failed" May Day. #ows

— allisonkilkenny (@allisonkilkenny) April 1, 2012

Source: @allisonkilkenny

April Fools #M1 #ows joke aside, I hopethe support rises up and we're not overreaching.

— Mikal Jakubal (@MikalJakubal) April 1, 2012

Source: @MikalJakubal

The @OccupyWallSt account undid its retweet later, after people on Twitter reacted badly. The tweet speaks to the difficulty of April Fool’s on Twitter: jokes that are plausible yet unfunny — i.e., lies — are bound to be met with a barrage of confused and frustrated reactions from people who feel lied to.

THIS. now i cant trust them as #OWS source. fucking hate that RT @allisonkilkenny: April Fools + actual news = never a good idea #ows #M1

— Liza Sabater (@blogdiva) April 1, 2012

Source: @blogdiva