Walmart Activitists Plan Black Friday Protest in Suffern

On Black Friday, Nov. 29, Walmart workers and activists are expected to hold 1,500 protests against Walmart locations across the country. Stay Human Rockland plans a Black Friday protest in front of the Walmart store in Suffern from 2 to 3 p.m. At least a dozen protestors are expected. 

According to Len Tsou of Stay Human Rockland the protests will bring attention to low wages, corporate welfare and corporate retaliation.

Walmart is the largest employer in the U.S. with 4,759 stores and 1.4 million U.S. employees, whose average hourly wage is reported as $8.81. 

Walmart spokeswoman Katie Cody said the company has been planning its Black Friday events for nearly a year and does not expect any disruption from the protests.

“We’re just focused on serving our customers,” she said.

In some cases, Walmart workers rely on food stamps and other government aid programs to meet their basic needs. Walmart fired or disciplined 117 workers last June and the

National Labor Relations Board issued a decision last month that it will challenge those actions for violating workers’ rights.