Protestors Tell Wal-Mart to "FUHGEDDABOUD" Coming to NYC

Protesters of all kinds gathered at City Hall today against the prospect of Wal-Mart parking its corporate, labor-discriminating ass in the city. A Wal-Mart in New York City? "Fuhgeddaboudit!" they proclaimed.

"What does Wal-Mart not understand about, 'New York City doesn't want you'?" asked Stuart Applebaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union. He added that the RWDSU would work aggressively to prevent any Wal-Mart attempt at circumventing city representatives.

Other organizations at the protest included UFCW Local 1500, the New York City Central Labor Council, New York Communities for Change, and various local and city-wide elected officials.

Brooklyn resident Christopher Spellman joined the protest with New York Communities for Change and brought his son along with him.

"We don't want Wal-Mart in Brooklyn if they're not going to live up to our standards," Spellman said. "We need equal opportunity for everybody."

It's no secret that Wal-Mart is notorious for violating labor laws, discriminating against women, and damaging the well-being of small local businesses.

"Brooklyn doesn't want you," Stuart Applebaum said, "And for that matter, Queens doesn't want you. The Bronx doesn't want you. Staten Island doesn't want you. Manhattan doesn't want you."

Well, Manhattan doesn't really want anybody, but you know you're unpopular when not even Staten Island wants you on their water-locked wasteland. Fuhgeddaboudit, Wal-Mart.

[awerner@villagevoice.com]