Occupy Walmart

The message of the Occupy movement has moved from Wall Street to Main Street, as all 1% corporations are scrutinized for their irresponsible behavior. And the "Mother of all 1% corporations," according to author Al Norman, is none other than the mightiest retailer of them all, Walmart. Norman, the chief anti-Walmart activist for 20 years, argues that Walmart is the perfect target for effecting change in the unfair global economy. Walmart, "the most ubiquitous symbol of what has gone awry in corporate America today," is in our neighborhoods. As the 99% become less tolerant of the 1% who make billions by exploiting workers, taxpayers, and shoppers, they long to bring back local citizen control to our hometowns. In such places as Athens, Georgia and Mira Loma, California, groups have begun actions against Walmart and its distribution centers. Occupy Walmart is a compilation of essays Norman has published in the Huffington Post, along with updates of the issues and additional commentary. In the book's foreword, Robert Greenwald, founder of Brave New Films and producer of the 2005 documentary about Walmart, The High Cost of Low Price, says, "these essays create an uncomfortable film about the greed, profiteering, and cheating that make up the Walmart business model." A grassroots activist who has helped countless groups organize efforts to fight the spread of Walmarts in their hometowns, Al Norman has been on 60 Minutes and quoted in publications from Fortune to the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times. He posts frequently on his blog, Sprawl-Busters.com, and continues to contribute essays to the Huffington Post.