Photos from prior rally, Courtesy: Good Growth DeKalbDEKALB COUNTY, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
On Friday, Good Growth DeKalb will hold the third in a series of three summer rallies to protest the building of a 149,000 square foot Walmart Supercenter at Suburban Plaza in Decatur.
The rally will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the intersection of Medlock Road, North Decatur Road and Scott Boulevard.
The organization, made up of DeKalb County residents, feel the area of the proposed store would have a negative affect on what they call an "already dangerous and heavily-trafficked six-way intersection."
"We believe that Walmart is the opposite of a good neighbor," said Staci Dixon, Co-Chairman of Good Growth DeKalb. "Both Walmart and Selig Enterprises, owner of Suburban Plaza, are concerned only with profit, while giving lipservice to 'working with the community.' They are not concerned with the dangers to emergency vehicle traffic, how long it takes residents to get out of our neighborhoods, reduced property values invariably associated with Walmart, loss of all the jobs connected with small, local businesses, or the heavy impact on county infrastructure. Walmart also represents the very worst in employment practices, both domestically and worldwide."
In the last eight months, Good Growth DeKalb said it has done extensive neighborhood canvassing and found that 75 percent of residents are opposed to Walmart and only 5 percent are in favor, with the remainder neutral or undecided.
They said around 500 yard signs opposing the development are placed at homes in the surrounding neighborhoods.
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