Flashmob Confronts Walmart Chairman Rob Walton

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Walmart Chairman Rob Walton and other corporate leaders got a surprise last Thursday when Respect DC and Occupy K St showed up at their $1000 a plate dinner at Union Station. Chanting "Respect DC" and "We Are the 99%" the demonstrators gathered flashmob style, called together through the "people's mic" a technique the Occupy movement has become known for. In less than a minute about 200 protesters gathered on the East side of Union Station. A single protester stood in the middle of the circle, his word amplified by the crowd. “We are the 99 percent!” They said. “And we’re here because the 1 percent is here! Inside is the chairman of Walmart, who drove down wages in the U.S. and abroad. We are here to tell the 1 percent that we know what they’re up to and we will not stand for it!” Across a velvet rope, businessmen and women mingled in suits and dresses, staring wide-eyed at their uninvited guests. The event was a fundraiser for a green-washing group called Conservation International. In addition to Walton, attendees included the CEO of defense contractor Northrup Grumman as well as former Bush administration officials. "Walmart is trying to crash our city, so we decided to crash their party," said Respect DC’s Mike Wilson. "This event was the 1% coming together to plan how to continue to harm the rest of us; we couldn't miss the chance to let them know we are watching." Outside the velvet rope protesters chanted for 45 minutes straight, their chants shifting from “We are the 99 percent!” to “Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart, What do you say? How many wages have you cut today?” to “Hey ho! Hey ho! Corporate Greed has got to go!” and included an appearance from a bugler who played the “Imperial March” from Star Wars and the theme from Indiana Jones. At one point the protesters simply shouted “Shame! Shame! Shame! Shame!” Police did not intervene and Union Station security was friendly as passersby joined in the protest. The protesters left peacefully and marched through the streets back to McPherson Square. Click here to watch video of the action, learn more about Respect DC or Occupy K St. - report/photo by AJ Metcalf