For years, Athens, Georgia, home to the University of Georgia and REM, has ranked highly on lists of America’s best college towns. With a laid back and accepting atmosphere, its downtown has flourished over the years by serving as a launching pad for some of the state’s best small businesses and independent shops, eateries, and bars.
Yet corporate behemoth Walmart is trying to change all that by opening a store in downtown Athens. Georgia Politico’s Dustin Baker notes that Athens is not going to take Walmart’s invasion into its “Classic City” lying down. Occupy Athens is organizing against the Walmart encroachment. At a recent meeting over the issue, one member even vowed to set up a tent city to block Walmart’s construction if it begins. Watch Occupy Athens cheer this proposal in video footage captured by Baker:
Democratic Party State Treasurer and Athens resident Russell Edwards has started a SignOn petition against the Walmart construction. It has over 7,500 signatures despite only being up for a few days.
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