Workers Confluence at the Ball Without Billionaires

Labor is Art. Resistance is joyful. And workers throw better parties.

Many know the first Monday in May as the date of the annual Met Gala. This fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute is known for extravagant, themed costumes worn by celebrities and other VIPs, and the inclusion of mega-donors Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez Bezos as this year’s honorary co-chairs drew criticism from many.

But the most stylish protest of the Bezos Met Gala was the Ball Without Billionaires, and Workers Confluence Co-Directors Jasmine Graves and Casey Hudek were there to take part. 

Co-organized by the Amazon Labor Union, the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union, and several other labor organizations across the Amazon Worker Power Ecosystem, this event took place in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District and featured a red carpet walked by workers from Amazon, Whole Foods, and The Washington Post (all owned by Bezos). They wore gowns and other high-end apparel from independent BIPOC and immigrant designers. They shared stories of the abuse they’ve endured in the workplace, but also victories they’ve won together, and the vision of a more just world that keeps them going.

“Movements for change are at their most powerful when they incorporate joy, beauty and celebration. We are excited to continue conversations begun at this event, which drew organizers and worker-leaders from around the country.” Said Workers Confluence Co-Director Jasmine Graves.

Video clips: 

Further reading:

New York Times: A Ball Without Billionaires Kicks Off the First Monday in May

The Root: Forget the Billionaires: The ‘Working People’s Met Gala’ is the Only Event That Matters Today

Harper’s Bazaar: This is What a “Ball Without Billionaires” Looks Like