WakeUpWalMart.com
December Update
Over the past three
months, WakeUpWalMart.com, along with our coalition partners – Jobs with
Justice, ACORN and other community groups – has organized over 1,500 grassroots
actions all across the country.
Americans are starting to wake up to the high costs of Wal-Mart’s
morally bankrupt business practices thanks to the work of the now 150,000
WakeUpWalMart.com supporters. Here are
some of the most recent successes and updates related to the campaign to change
Wal-Mart:
“All I Want for Christmas Is Healthcare
for My Mommy”
This weekend, Santa Claus will visit Wal-Mart stores around the country as part of a 20-state “All I want for Christmas…is health care for my mommy” holiday campaign calling on Wal-Mart and CEO Lee Scott to provide affordable health care to all Wal-Mart workers before the end of this holiday season. The event includes children asking Santa for health care for Wal-Mart workers and their families. Santa Claus, local children and community supporters will hold a rally, distribute flyers to local citizens, and ask citizens to sign a petition supporting Fair Share Health Care legislation.
“Light A Candle for Change” Vigils
Last weekend, WakeUpWalMart.com supporters
and leaders of faith held candlelight vigils at over 30 Wal-Mart stores in more
than 20 states around the country. At these events, leaders asked Wal-Mart to
do what is right and change for the better this Holiday Season, since Wal-Mart
can but chooses not to reflect the best of our moral values. While at the
stores, supporters gave local Wal-Mart managers copies of the interfaith letter
to Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott, signed by over 90 respected religious leaders
representing over 1.3 million Americans.
Guess Who’s Not Shopping At Wal-Mart?
The “Guess Who's Not Shopping” online contest
was based on that idea that someone important was not shopping at Wal-Mart this
Holiday Season, given Wal-Mart's record of gender discrimination in the
workplace, violation of child labor laws, and the fact that over 600,000 of
Wal-Mart employees are not covered by Wal-Mart's health insurance. After nearly
two weeks of suspense, the competition ended on December 9 with the answer
revealed -- the Reverend Jesse Jackson, among other prominent faith leaders. Of
the 68 people who guessed correctly, ten were randomly selected to receive a
free TiVO. Congratulations to the lucky winners!
150,000… and Counting!
Last week, WakeUpWalMart.com announced the goal of reaching 150,000
supporters by December 31st. Due to an amazing grassroots response, the
campaign broke 150,000 on December 12 and continues to grow!
Zogby Poll
Just over a week ago, a new national poll showed
a majority of Americans now believe Wal-Mart is bad for America because of
Wal-Mart’s high moral and economic costs.
WakeUpWalMart.com and other groups have come together to put Wal-Mart on
the defensive, making the Wal-Mart debate a national issue!
Thank you for all your hard work and have a safe and happy holiday.
