Dozens Protest Wal-Mart Shareholders Convention

Against The Wal Coalition, in hazmat suits and rubber gloves, attempted to quarantine Bud Walton Arena as shareholders were walking out of the meeting. But things didn`t work out as planned. Protesters with "Against The Wal Coalition are attempting to quarantine Wal-Mart locations in more than 20 cities nationwide. They say they are focusing on Wal-Mart`s failure to provide health care to a majority of its employees. "If we peel away the smiley face sticker, what well find is an awful, awful company," says protester Joshua Thompson. Friday, the group`s first hiccup came when they found out they couldn`t protest directly in front of Bud Walton Arena. Captain Dallas McClelland with the Washington County Sheriffs Department says, "You have to have a permit to protest on campus and they didnt apply for a permit. Were not going to stop them from protesting just because of that, but there is a designated area thats been assigned to them to do that." Even still-- they were planning to march on. So in hazmat suits, face shields, and rubber gloves these protesters were hoping to confront the shareholders as they were going in and out of the meeting to make their message be heard. "Put yourself in their shoes for one day. How would you feel if it was you and you ended up in the hospital because you didnt have $80 to buy some medicine?" says ACORN Representative Hattie Daniels. But another problem came when the protesters were still working on their plan of action when the convention ended. But they say that`s not what matters. "The fact that Wal-Mart exploits their workers, that they turn their time clock back, they dont provide adequate health care, they discriminate against women... that makes us get out here," says Thompson. Cara Hill didn`t even know about the protest but she says it doesnt bother her at all. "They probably still shop at our stores... they`d do anything to get a little publicity." We did speak with a Wal-Mart associate and she said health care is very affordable, and in shareholders meeting today new changes were made to help those employees who might not have had coverage. Against The Wal has another event planned... a bike ride Saturday to protest urban overdevelopment.