From the Austin American-Statesman:
Sofie Cruse and five of her middle school friends, spending their Saturday as neophyte activists, jumped up and down and screamed at drivers waiting at the busy intersection of Anderson Lane and Burnet Road to look at their sign."No Wal-Mart SuperCenter — Do it neighborly. Do it right," the sign read.
The girls were among what organizers said was a crowd of about 2,500 at Northcross Mall in North Austin lending their voices to a growing spat between an Austin neighborhood and a worldwide corporation.
"If they put that Wal-Mart here, it's going to ruin the feel of my neighborhood. That's where I skate . . . and I get parts for my bike right there," Sofie, 15, said as she pointed at different parts of Northcross Mall.
Cruse and her red-clad fellow activists formed a human chain along the streets ringing Northcross Mall on Saturday morning in protest of a planned Wal-Mart that would anchor a makeover of the long-struggling mall.
Responsible Growth for Northcross, a coalition opposing the project, organized the protest, which began at about 10 a.m. The single line of demonstrators was about a mile long, organizers said.
Read more about Responsible Growth for Northcross on the community group's web page.
The hand-to-hand chain remained linked for about 10 minutes.But the anti-Wal-Mart protesters stayed for about a half-hour after breaking the chain, yelling and cheering at cars as they passed. Many of the motorists honked their horns in a seeming show of support.
"I had my first kiss at this mall. I don't want to see it go," said Kelly Brenich, who has lived for most of her life in the Allandale area, which lies to the south of the mall. "Now I take my kids ice skating here."
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and land owner Lincoln Property Co. were not available for comment Saturday.
But supporters of Wal-Mart's plans have pointed out that the mall, surrounded by acres of parking and situated alongside busy Anderson Lane and Burnet Road, was built as an intense retail center originally.
The mall, which opened in 1975, has struggled for the past decade and generated far less traffic than in its early years.
The opposition to having a store at Northcross, they have said, has more to do with Wal-Mart's overall political problems — the mega-chain has been criticized for its labor practices and effect on small, local businesses — than it does to the specifics of the situation.
Nineteen-year-old Kate Branam said she would consider moving back to the area — she grew up near the mall — if the Wal-Mart is completed.
"The prices are hard to beat, and it stays open all night," said Branam, an Austin Community College student.
The city approved the Lincoln Property plan for Wal-Mart in August, but neighbors in the area took immediate action to try to stop construction.
In December, another rally was held outside Austin City Hall to protest the approval.
All construction plans and applications for permits ceased in December for a 60-day period.
Wal-Mart spokesman Keith Morris said last month that company representatives have met with six neighborhood associations since November but haven't received an invitation from Responsible Growth for Northcross.
Responsible Growth is calling for residents of Austin to boycott local Wal-Mart stores beginning today, and state Rep. Elliott Naishtat, D-Austin, said he would take part.
"I hope that Wal-Mart gets the message (today)," said Naishtat, who was strolling around in a red-checked shirt after the human link broke. "Getting nearly 3,000 people to stand tall on an overcast, cold morning in Austin is incredible."
Posted by Laura - February 13, 2007 09:54 AM - In The News