toledoblade.com --

An Internet-based campaign that organizers say has blossomed into a social movement since its inception last year rolled into Toledo yesterday to urge area residents to call on retailing giant Wal-Mart to change its practices.

"This is how we get things done in America. We're asking Wal-Mart to protect American jobs, provide affordable health care, and pay a living wage," Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com, told a crowd of about 100 people packed in a small conference room at the offices of Gallon & Takacs Co. in Sylvania Township.

The Washington-based campaign started its bus tour in New York City last week and is scheduled to make stops in 35 cities in 19 states before its final rally in Seattle on Labor Day.

"Whether it is at community meetings of 20 people, town halls, busy public squares, metro stops, or state fairs with thousands of people, we are taking our campaign to change Wal-Mart directly to the American people because we know by joining together we can change Wal-Mart and change America for the better," said Mr. Blank, a former adviser to the Howard Dean campaign during the 2004 presidential election season.

At yesterday's rally, Chris Kofinis, the campaign's spokesman, explained why the group started the drive using a presentation titled, "A Costly Truth."

He told a mostly pro-union, pro-Democrat crowd that Wal-Mart has had special significance for the state of Ohio, claiming that the company's business practices and growing trade with China have forced American manufacturing jobs to shut down and move overseas.

"There is a growing disparity and something fundamentally wrong when a company that employs a majority of Americans says that its workers should not enjoy a healthy standard of living," said Mr. Kofinis, a former campaign adviser to Gen. Wesley Clark during the 2004 presidential campaign.

In attendance were a host of community groups like Jobs With Justice Toledo, Interfaith Worker Justice, UNITE!, and members of the Union of Food and Commercial Workers.

A Wal-Mart spokesman defended the company yesterday, calling the rally biased.

"This is a union-funded publicity stunt that is more about politics than anything else. The fact is that these union-funded groups are attacking the wrong company," said Linda Blakely, a Wal-Mart spokesman.

"The working families of Ohio, whether they live in Toledo, Cleveland, or Cincinnati, should be able to decide for themselves where to shop and save their hard-earned dollars," she said.

The WakeUpWalMart.com tour bus campaign will make stops in Elyria, Ohio, and Cleveland today.

Contact Karamagi Rujumba at: krujumba@theblade.com or 419-724-6064.

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