Yesterday a number of dedicated concerned citizens participated in a protest at the Georgia Ave Walmart "grand opening." Our efforts received coverage from various media outlets, including NBC and the Washington Post .Andrea Rosen, a Ward 4 resident and participant in the protest, shares her impressions:
A personal account of the opening of the Georgia and Missouri Walmart: We had one female police person ask us if we had any idea how many people were going to show up. That was the extent of interference. We said we didn't really know because in fact at that point, 7:50 am, it was only a handful—Mike and Rosa from Respect DC; core Ward 4 Thrives people; a couple of people from the neighborhood whom I did not know. But then Lenny (my husband) and sometime Ward 4 Thrives participants Marc Spiegel and Ann Hoffman arrived and a great longtime city activist, Debby Hanrahan who had worked hard on the LRAA; and eventually, Nikki, who heads DC Jobs with Justice, as well as a few new people who came out of the woodwork, plus some folks from various unions. So we had a larger group than I’d expected. Not only did the police let us roam freely back and forth in front of the Walmart, displaying our home-made posters and handing out cards urging people to shop local and hold Walmart accountable!, from one end of the block to the other, but the Walmart folks had to grin and bear it. That was the most delicious part!
DC Chamber of Commerce doyenne Barbara Lang had just emerged from her limo (well, I didn’t actually see the car) when I arrived, and was, as ever, beautifully coiffed and regal, surrounded by her male acolytes. Mayor Gray showed up, looking unwell or at least unpleasant, and was forced to shake hands with some of the demonstrators because we’d positioned ourselves in his path at the end of the line of people waiting to get into the store. I told him that I live in Ward 4 and am very unhappy to have two Walmarts in my ward, and thrust a flyer into his hand, which he was obliged to take. I was holding a poster that said, “Walmart: BAD Corporate Citizen – Sponsor of ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws” with photos of of Trayvon Martin and Renisha McBride. Then Ms. Bowser came by, and greeted me pleasantly as “Miss Rosen.” Is that the main qualification for politicians—that they remember people’s names? She had four petitioners approaching people, many of whom were just pleased as punch to sign to get her on the ballot. I ran into Vincent Orange at the entrance as well; he was holding a small plastic bottle of what turned out to be chocolate milk. Walmart was giving customers free loaves of sliced white bread and chocolate milk, gratis. Deeply nutritious! Bread for the city! Walmart had a large yellow helium balloon high in the sky above the store like a beacon — Bread and Circus!
Perry did an ongoing commentary about Walmart, walking the full length of the block back and forth. He was tireless! One of his best: “Low prices today mean low wages everyday!” All poster-worthy!
I had a too-brief conversation with a young man who works with Our Walmart. He said at the Maryland stores, a charity dental-care bus comes around so that employees can get dental care. Most employees can’t afford the health insurance premiums, so they’re on Medicaid. He said he’s having trouble persuading them to move to the Affordable Care Act offerings because they are so used to Medicaid. He was incredulous that this is how things stand in the 21st century.
Lots of media prowled about. I was interviewed by Channel 7 and gave them an earful; they’ll probably toss the footage, since I’m so unphotogenic. Before I left at 9:30 am, nearly all 700 flyers had been given out.
I have to say I was somewhat disappointed that there were a lot of customers. I would guess that more than half came by car. There had earlier been a traffic accident (involving, I think, a bicyclist!) that caused 14th Street to be stopped in both directions at Military; I got the DC Alert at 6:45 am. By the time I arrived in the area at 7:45, cars were snaking at a snail’s pace around the store. Peabody is a LITTLE side street, and that is where the entrance to the garage is! Brilliant! Because I was concerned about the bottleneck from the accident, I had taken a circumlocutious route, so I saw the traffic tie-up on foot. But when it came time to leave at 9:30 (to make my 10 am dental appt.), I got stuck on a street bordering Paul Charter School, trying to make a right onto Missouri. NO DICE; it was too backed up. I had to go straight across when I got the light. DDoT should get some serious heat about this insane situation, as should the Ward 4 Councilmember and the Mayor.
All in all, an interesting experience!
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