In Wake of Walmart Bribery Probe, Activists Call for Halt on DC Stores

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)With the Justice Department now conducting a criminal probe of Walmart for allegations of systematic bribery in Mexico, Respect DC  is calling on local authorities “to put a halt on all permitting for Walmart’s proposed stores in DC.” The community group has scheduled a rally tomorrow at 10a at the Wilson Building to demand “that Walmart take responsibility for their actions” and that all construction of stores in DC be put on hold “until a full federal investigation of this scandal is complete," as well as an investigation into their local giving. Say local organizers, “in light of recent reports of Walmart's $24 million dollar bribes and massive cover up, we are taking to the streets to name names. Local electeds and Walmart executives will be made very uncomfortable by our action on Thursday.” - photo: Eduardo Castro-Wright, former head of Wal-Mart’s Wal-Mex division, and one of the top Walmart executives accused of bribing officials in Mexico. AP Photo/April L. Brown