This really doesn't surprise me today. Tom Morello has never been shy about his beliefs and protesting. Good for him for lending his name and celebrity to something he's passionate about. Too bad we can't get him involved in the Wal-Mart protest in downtown Athens.
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LOS
ANGELES — Hundreds of people marched Saturday
through the streets of Chinatown in Los Angeles to protest against
Wal-Mart's plans to open a store in the neighborhood.
The colorful event included lion dancers, bicyclists and a rally under Chinatown's dragon gates, headlined by Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello.
Many said they came to protest against the proposed store while others said they came to decry what they said were Wal-Mart's low wages and union-busting attempts.
"This historic neighborhood will be utterly gutted if Wal-Mart comes here," Morello told The Associated Press about the prospects of the retail giant driving smaller stores in Chinatown out of business.
"It's Wal-Mart's global policy of sweatshop labor and poverty level wages that we don't need in LA," he said.
Wal-Mart began construction this week with plans to open the store next year.
The proposed store is not a Walmart Supercenter but what the company calls a "neighborhood market," one that is about a fifth the size of a supercenter and typically carries groceries, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, deli foods, stationery and dry goods.
The colorful event included lion dancers, bicyclists and a rally under Chinatown's dragon gates, headlined by Rage Against the Machine's Tom Morello.
Many said they came to protest against the proposed store while others said they came to decry what they said were Wal-Mart's low wages and union-busting attempts.
"This historic neighborhood will be utterly gutted if Wal-Mart comes here," Morello told The Associated Press about the prospects of the retail giant driving smaller stores in Chinatown out of business.
"It's Wal-Mart's global policy of sweatshop labor and poverty level wages that we don't need in LA," he said.
Wal-Mart began construction this week with plans to open the store next year.
The proposed store is not a Walmart Supercenter but what the company calls a "neighborhood market," one that is about a fifth the size of a supercenter and typically carries groceries, fresh produce, pharmaceuticals, deli foods, stationery and dry goods.
Company
officials selected the location after determining the Chinatown
neighborhood was among those underserved when it comes to providing
fresh food, Wal-Mart said.
Spokesman Steven Restivo said more than 170,000 people were expected to shop at a Walmart store in Los Angeles County on Saturday.
"Clearly, the vast majority of customers see Wal-Mart as part of the solution when it comes to things like jobs, healthier foods and sustainability," Restivo said. "We remain committed to serving customers here and look forward to soon opening new Walmart Neighborhood Market stores in Panorama City, Altadena and downtown Los Angeles."
Restivo noted last month that the Chinatown store is planned for a building that has been vacant for nearly two decades and was previously zoned for a grocery store.
Spokesman Steven Restivo said more than 170,000 people were expected to shop at a Walmart store in Los Angeles County on Saturday.
"Clearly, the vast majority of customers see Wal-Mart as part of the solution when it comes to things like jobs, healthier foods and sustainability," Restivo said. "We remain committed to serving customers here and look forward to soon opening new Walmart Neighborhood Market stores in Panorama City, Altadena and downtown Los Angeles."
Restivo noted last month that the Chinatown store is planned for a building that has been vacant for nearly two decades and was previously zoned for a grocery store.
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