Tens of thousands protest, over 100 arrested in Black Friday challenge to Wal-Mart
Source: Salon.com
After rallies across the country, burning question remains whether more Wal-Mart employees will defy retaliation
Josh Eidelson
Organizers say 111 people were arrested in eight Black Friday civil disobedience actions against Wal-Mart, with more arrests expected at a ninth and final such demonstration now underway in San Leandro, California. Those actions are among 1,500 total protests promised for today by the union-backed group OUR Walmart, which last year said it mobilized 400-some Wal-Mart employees to strike.
Wal-Mart workers and community supporters, we refuse to live in fear and refuse to accept scraps, employee Martha Sellers told reporters on a mid-day call. She was joined by arrestee Betty Shove, who said shed been harassed for OUR Walmart activism, and was standing up for every member that cannot, that will not, because theyre too afraid to lose their job.
In May, as workers kicked off a several-day strike and caravan to Wal-Marts shareholder meeting which was followed by the firing of twenty-three participants, United Food & Commercial Workers strategist Dan Schlademan told me, were certainly going to prove its growing this year. But as I suggested this morning, how todays Black Friday activism compares to last years depends on how you count. While strikes were the centerpiece of Black Friday 2012, this year the campaign focused on civil disobedience actions, which involved a mix of current Wal-Mart employees, fired workers, and other supporters. OUR Walmart said it hit its goal of holding at least 1,500 protests, and that those involved tens of thousands of people, but said it did not yet have a count of how many Wal-Mart employees were involved. In a September statement, the campaign pledged widespread, massive strikes and protests for Black Friday.
In a Friday evening statement, Wal-Mart said, In reality, we counted fewer than 20 current associates participating in events. Asked about that claim, a spokesperson for the UFCWs Making Change at Walmart campaign e-mailed, Thats laughable and it is disrespectful to workers and supporters who are raising real concerns about low wages at Walmart. Walmart workers have been striking all month and were out protesting across the country today.
FULL story aty link.
Read more: http://www.salon.com/2013/11/30/tens_of_thousands_protest_over_100_arrested_in_black_friday_challenge_to_wal_mart/
Protesters outside Walmart in Los Angeles, November 7, 2013. (Credit: Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)
blkmusclmachine
(16,149 posts)annm4peace
(6,119 posts)(I had to work till noon today and when got off the freeway, the police had shut down the Snelling 3 blocks from this action and 3 blocks on either on either side of University also, I had to go 3 streets over and around a barracked to get near Snelling. I got to the corner just has police started to arrest the activists. Thankfully the police did it one at a time and slowly. I think it took about 1/2 hour and then off marching past Walmart and Target, all in 20 degree weather.)
Story for The UpTake by Sheila Regan/Video by Bill Sorem
One of those arrested at University and Snelling was Jessica English of Take Action Minnesota, who said she once became homeless working in retail as a single mom. Im here to fight to make sure that doesnt happen to other moms, she said.
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http://advocate.stpaulunions.org/2013/11/29/call-to-end-poverty-wages-rings-out-at-twin-cities-black-friday-protests/
daleanime
(17,796 posts)NJCher
(35,653 posts)Here's a link to what happened in Seattle:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2022364649_walmartprotestxml.html
Cher
Edited to add this link about comments from Allen Grayson:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014660235
Response to Omaha Steve (Original post)
delrem This message was self-deleted by its author.
TexasTowelie
(112,103 posts)DrDebug
(3,847 posts)ellenrr
(3,864 posts)Kingofalldems
(38,450 posts)Will they be repaying us for all the welfare they encourage their employees to seek?
mrsadm
(1,198 posts)Hurray!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)MADem
(135,425 posts)I wonder why SALON feels the need to illustrate their story with a picture that is unrelated to the events of yesterday? Surely they could find ONE picture of yesterday's events? Just one?
Good effort and all that by the protesters, but I think WalMart won this round.
I'd like to see WalMart raise wages, provide better benefits, and offer some measure of job security, but I don't know if the "Do Right By The Workers" message was able to punch through the "enthusiasm for bargains" generated by the Day After Overeating Day Shop-Fest.
bayareaboy
(793 posts)Is in what was a Dodge Plant, That had a union contract. The Wallyworld to the south of this one is in Union City which once had lots of union contracts, when we all needed unions.
Yes, that was a little sarcastic!
TBF
(32,047 posts)represent!
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)I was at the San Leandro one. It was great, very well attended.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)I am disappointed that you are not one of the seven Democratic members of Congress who issued a statement of support for those picketing Wal-Mart to urge the company to provide higher wages.
We stand with the courageous Walmart workers who are demanding better wages and an end to illegal retaliation, the lawmakers wrote. Walmart, the largest private employer in the United States, has a responsibility to their employees and our country to respect workers and their rights. No one should have to fear losing their jobs just for speaking up. http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/191650-dem-lawmakers-back-walmart-workers-wage-fight
I was in front of Walmart in Rohnert Park on Black Friday with my sign: WalMart is the Biggest Welfare Queen in the U.S. Fair Wages Not Food Stamps!
I don't work at Walmart and never shop there. I do not support exploitation and cruelty.
I WISH I did not have to support WalMart with my tax dollars!! The extreme low wages they pay means that I support their workers via food stamps and MediCal even though I never set foot in their door. This is wrong, and so unfair to both the taxpayers and Walmart workers.
Please sign on to support the protesters against cruel, greedy Walmart and the Walton family.
Please support immediately raising the minimum wage to a livable wage. People who go to work everyday should not be poor and should not have to rely on public assistance.
Sincerely,
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)Best thing I've read today.