Group petitions Walmart opening

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — A group of residents spent the day circulating a petition to keep a Walmart store out of their Decatur neighborhood.

Opponents of the retailer giant gathered at the North Decatur Presbyterian Church before dispersing into neighborhoods that they believe will be negatively impacted by the development.

"This is the first time we're really getting teams together to go out and knock on people's doors all at the same time," said Louise Runyon from the group, Good Growth DeKalb.

Opponents said bringing the proposed 250,000-feet store to Suburban Plaza at North Decatur Road, between Church Street and Medlock Road, is a bad idea for the community which prides itself on local businesses and a small-town feel, reports said.

"Some people think it's a done deal," Runyon said. "That's a very common phrase but we know it isn't. It isn't as long as we say that we're fighting it."

But supporters argue that the store would benefit by providing an estimated 250 to 300 jobs to DeKalb County.

In a statement released a few weeks ago to Channel 2 Action News, Walmart officials said demonstrators who took to the streets only represent a ‘small group’ of people against the store’s opening.

The latest anti-Walmart effort comes after a handful of demonstrations held over the past few months.

Opponents said there will be more in the future.

"When people come together and oppose something like this we have every possibility of winning," Runyon said.

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WSBTV