Ward 4 Says Two Walmarts is Too Much

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)"Walmart disrespects their customers and workers in urban communities" said one Ward 4 resident at a community meeting Tuesday night about the two Walmarts proposed for Ward 4 (four more have been proposed at other locations in the District). Over 50 residents showed up for the meeting at Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ, co-hosted by Respect DC, Ward 4 Thrives, and Faith Strategies. Reverend Edwin Jones, pastor of Living Faith Baptist Church and International Ministries in Ward 7, and a native Washingtonian, made it clear that "if we don't stand up, Walmart will own our city." Three current Walmart employees and members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart, including two Ward 4 residents, spoke about their struggle to change Walmart from the inside. They called on community members to join them at an early-morning rally at the Laurel Walmart on October 9. For details on the 7a rally, contact Mike Wilson at organizer@respectdc.org. - photo of Respect DC parade on 5/31/2012 by Chris Garlock