Group gathers at Flint Twp. Walmart for Black Friday protest - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(11/23/12) - Hundreds of people, across the country, made good on a promise to protest Wal-Mart when Black Friday shoppers would be out in full force to witness it.

There was a group at the Flint Township store, on Corunna Road, Friday afternoon.

"It's important for them to know they're not alone. That other workers, union and non-union, support them, support their freedoms to speak out and their voice in the workplace," says Art Reyes.

Reyes is president of UAW Local 651 and also chairman of the Genesee County Democratic Party. He, along with his brother, helped organize the local gathering. Reyes says he did it as a concerned citizen - concerned about conditions, benefits and wages.

Reyes says some workers are paid so little they need government assistance.

"Our tax dollars are subsidizing Walmart's wages and benefits. I think that's wrong, as a taxpayer," he says.

Jeremy Royer, of Flint Township, was also part of the protest.

"I am here to say I am not for you trompling (sic) over wages in order to make a huge profit," Royer says.

The group OUR Walmart helped organize worker walkouts and protests around the country.

Published reports indicated Walmart said there were 26 protests Thursday night, when its stores opened to begin Black Friday.

It estimated fewer than 50 Walmart workers took part then and that many of the demonstrations involved no employees at all.