Need help with an ANTI-WALMART crusade

[Pab Sungenis]

WAL-MART is trying to come to town, and I'm one of the people leading the effort to try and block them.

We've got a rally at my movie theater (DeMarco Cinemas, Vineland NJ) next Saturday (the 22nd) at noon, and I want to have as much information and data as I can for when I hit the stage.

Can anyone provide me with some good Anti-WAL-MART links?

Thanks.

[gmoney]

1. Good article from Fast Company

www.fastcompany.com/magazine/77/walmart.html

[Radical Activist]

2. ooooohhhh! I hate wal-mart!

Is there an ACORN chapter in your town? They helped lead the anti-wal-mart campaigns in California and Chicago. Contact them and the local labor council if you haven't already. www.acorn.org

You could also check out:
http://www.walmartwatch.com/

The LA Times did a series of articles on walmart I haven't read but it should be useful:
http://www.latimes.com/news/custom/showcase/la-walmart-sg.gallery

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette actually does some good coverage of their home state corporate giant, although I'm not sure you'll be able to get into their archives.
http://www.ardemgaz.com/

I like this site
http://walmart-blows.com/

I hope this helps. Good Luck!!!

[liberalron]

3. Gladly! Anything I can do to help, as

Wal-Mart is a serious threat to society, all societies. People really need to be informed as to why it is not in there interest to have a Wal-Mart in theri town, or for them to shop at Wal-Mart. Aside from the public school issue, they are destroying the economic foundations of society; and I do not exagerate. I proably have some more at work. If so, I will post them sometime tomorrow.
Thank you. Good luck, and keep up the good work. It is important work.

http://www.blackcommentator.com/67/issue_67.html
http://www.blackcommentator.com/75/issue_75.html
http://www.blackcommentator.com/79/79_cover_teachers.html
http://www.blackcommentator.com/85/issue_85.html
http://www.blackcommentator.com/86/86_email.html
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18704
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0412-08.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0218-01.htm

[TreasonousBastard]

4. AAAAARRRRRrrrrrrrrrrgggggghhhhhhh!!!!!

I'm tied up next Saturday. Wish I could be there, though.

But, here's something I would never, ever do if the Wal-Mart should be built.

I would never buy a box of Avery labels and print hundreds of stickers saying:

"Made in China by prison slave labor, putting honest Americans out of work."

"Wal-Mart pays the people working here less than any other major company in the country. Native Americans are not subject to minimum wage laws, so they are paid even less- $4.50 an hour."

"This book/CD is the Wal-Mart edition, and has the parts they don't want you to read/hear edited from it."

And I certainly wouldn't wander around a Wal-Mart with those stickers I didn't make.

[fudge stripe cookays]

7. TB you're my hero! (evil cackle)

That's so sick, but I love it!

The only time I've ever gone into Wal-Mart was to post my Dean flyers on the bulletin boards out front.

This is so freaking brilliant.

[Nobody]

13. Gaaaaaaaaakkkkkkkkkkk!

I would never ever in a million years even consider making a "Know Your Rights" flyer with labor laws in an easy to read format. Nor would I leave piles of them lying around in places employees are likely to go. Never would I dream of providing information on how to start a union in places where an employee might want to pick them up. I certainly wouldn't make a project of it, replenishing the supply every few weeks or so. And I certainly wouldn't leave flyers under the windshields on cars.

[Radical Activist]

5. Walmart doesn't want its customers to vote

I doubt this has been covered in any article but Walmart refuses to allow Voter Registration drives at its stores, even though they make their storefronts available to many community groups and advertisers. Walmart executives used a company meeting space to host an event for Dick Cheney in Arkansas recently. The message is that political participation is good for rich Walmart executives but bad for Walmart customers who might vote Democratic.

[Nobody]

14. That's because an informed customer base won't shop at Wal Mart

The more knowledgeable people are, the more likely that Stop Wal Mart groups will arise.

The people in the neighborhood are always the last to know about a potential Wal Mart opening.

[patrick g]

6. here's my .02

write or communicate with LOCAL politicians, businesses, chamber of commerce, news agencies, etc. make up signs, posters, stickers, etc. disperse them. be very visible, but remain intellectual. the last thing you need is to appear you've gone mental . . ..

[Cursive_Knives512]

8. I'd also like to organize against Walmart in my town

There's one 5 miles away from my house and they're talking about building a "Super Center" less than a mile away. The first one already drove out a few smaller businesses... I'd love to protest it but feel pretty darn useless. The only reason some people in my town don't like Walmart is because "scummy" people (ie blacks, poor people) shop there.

Ugh.

[carols]

9. Best one I know is Against the Wal (link below)

http://www.againstthewal.com

They are protesting at the national shareholders conference on June 5 - unfortunate that it is the day of the march on the Pentagon, but if you are in the area (Arkansas), you may want to check it out. They are asking for help (see below)

Greetings from the Against The Wal Coalition,

This is the big update from a very excited group of local organizers in Fayetteville, AR. Our coalition has been working very hard publicizing the upcoming convergence and march during the Walmart shareholders convention, securing march permits, finding and securing a suitable convergence space, and raising money for all of this to go down. We have received an overwhelming amount of interest and support from around the country, and it looks like it is finally starting to come together very well.

First, the best news. We have reserved Hog Ridge Hollow Amphitheatre, which is near Fayetteville for our convergence space. It is located on 80 acres of land and has a stage, a big area for festivities and camping as well as lots of private camping spots for families or people who dont want to sleep in a tent city. There is going to be an Alternatives to Walmart Village set up out there with a DIY Skill Sharing Festival, music provided by local musicians, and free food collected and prepared by friendly hill folk. Also, an experienced child care provider has offered her services if anyone needs her, however contact us in advance about that. Please dont bring any glass containers or dogs to the convergence space. All in all the convergence space will be a blast where we can all get to know each other, work on protest art together, and provide an example of the many alternatives there are to Walmart and cutthroat capitalism. Contact [e-mail] if you would like to be involved in the DIY Skills Fair or contact [e-mail] to help with food donations and
cooking.

DIRECTIONS: I-540 runs north/south through the Northwest corner of Arkansas. From 540, take 6th street exit (#62) EAST until it turns into highway 16. Stay on highway 16 EAST through Elkins into Durham. Once in Durham, look closely for HOG RIDGE HOLLOW sign on RIGHT. Turn RIGHT, then stay to the LEFT at both forks. Look for gate approx. 1.5 miles down. Follow arrows up hill. Look for happy people!!!

If you need to contact us by phone before or during the convention call Brad at 479-200-1859. All of you that are coming by bus or train will need that phone number to get a ride out to the convergence space.

Folks who wish to help set everything up are welcome to come to the convergence space on Thursday June 3rd. Most people will be arriving on Friday June 4th to set up camp, have fun, and strategize about the legal march, which will be on Saturday June 5th. The actual shareholders convention is on Friday, so folks that are perhaps interested in maintaining a presence at the convention should
arrive on Thursday to prepare. Also, if you live around Northwest Arkansas or are coming up way before the protest we are meeting every Thursday in front of Mullins Library at the UA campus in Fayetteville at 8 o'clock.

Next, we have been swimming in paper work with local city and police officials in order to secure a legal march route on Saturday June 5th. However, we have emerged with a legal march through Fayetteville that will begin with all of us gathering at Wilson Park at 11am. Wilson Park is located in Fayetteville at the corner of
Prospect and Wilson St street. From there we will be carrying our messages to Bud Walton Arena where many shareholders and powerplayers within Walmart will be gathering. We will have a legal rally there with a stage and speakers and other actions.

As you can see our local organizing group has been doing a whole lot of work. Now it is time for the rest of the yall to start organizing yourselves into small affinity groups of close people who want to work together during the weekend. Think up street theatre skits to perform or huge puppets you would like to create and animate or banners that you would like to see flying in the wind. Who wants to make a twenty foot tall inflatable evil Walmart smiley face? Is the Rich People's Liberation Front going to counterprotest on behalf of the radical fringe of the richest 1%? Get creative with your resistance.

If anyone is interested in radical cheerleading during the rally contact [e-mail]. We are also looking for people with access to solar panels, knowledge of how to convert a diesel engine to biodeisel, large buses, large puppets, stilts, bulk food, workshops they would like to run, legal observers, and free copier access. You can also help by putting up flyers around your town that you can download off of our website www.againstthewal.org. The coalition could also use monetary donations because we have sunk ourselves in debt putting this together. You should also forward this email to lists and people who are interested.

Finally a huge thank you to all of the people who have helped the convergence out. We are definitely making a splash in Arkansas and it is because of all of us. Also, a special thanks to all the hosts of the different Against The Wal Roadshow stops. The tour went very well and thanks for your Southern hospitality.

We are looking forward to it.

From the Ozark Hills,
The Against The Wal Coalition
[e-mail]

[Only Me]

10. I live in a small area, and Walmarts are everywhere...

They are building a new super Walmart, less than 5 miles from the old one, which is said to be staying as well. The people around here just don't see this as anything but positive.

I think...how blind can they be? This is why so many of our small business have gone out of business.

[Kipepeo]

11. ufcw

http://www.ufcw.org/issues_and_actions/walmart_workers_campaign_info/facts_and_figures/index.cfm

[Nobody]

12. I just got home from a Stop Wal Mart meeting

About 50 people showed up and the organizer was only expecting about 10. One of Paul Wellstone's former staffers showed up to help us get started on constructive things we could do. Here are his suggestions.

1: Keep on your city council. Ours is notorious for blowing people pff and sending us to the developers.

2: The developers. Write them letters. Talk to them. Don't go away.

3: Grassroots outreach. Doorknocking, lit drops, petitions.

4: Talk to small business owners in the area. Get their support.

5: Talk to the media, write lots of letters to the ed. Make sure the community knows.

6: Research facts, maybe put up a website so people in your community can know how the battle is going.

7: Get your local unions involved. Since Wal Mart is so heavily anti-union, the unions will be a great ally.

And what every taxpaying citizen should know is that 86 cents for every dollar spent goes out of the community. Local businesses spemd money in the local area, but Wal Mart does not. 86% of all money taken in goes away and does not get reinvested into the community.

Only about 1% of the products carried by Wal Mart are lower priced than other retailers. Studies in Vermont and Arkansas have confirmed this.

Good luck with your rally and may Wal Mart be stopped!

[Robbien]

15. In Chicago, we just tried to fight off two new Walmarts

We won one battle and lost the other. Jobs with Justice led the fight here. This is the site where they did the organizing

http://www.chicagojwj.org/

Good luck. The best thing to do is the calls and letters to the aldermen in the districts involved.

[Nobody]

16. Way to go!

Your battle in Chicago was mentioned last night at our Stop Wal Mart meeting. This juggernaut can be stopped.