The vigil was part of a larger, faith-based campaign launched Friday in more than 40 cities across the country, "to highlight the moral issues surrounding Wal-Mart's anti-family business practices," according to WakeUpWalMart.com., the online organization that spearheaded the multi-faith, multi-state event.
"We were going to pray for Wal-Mart to change their ways," Donald Wright, a local activist for WakeUpWalMart.com, said from across the store's parking lot Friday night.
"We had our candles, and as we were walking toward the front of the store, the manager came out and told me ... we could leave or he would call the police."
A manager at the store declined comment Friday night.
Several Wal-Mart employees were present at the protest, including Marty Charest, a 16-year Wal-Mart veteran. "It's not family-oriented like it used to be," Charest said. "It used to be that family comes first."
Sheila Burroughs, an 18-year Wal-Mart employee, said that "a lot more (employees) were going to show up, but they were afraid they'd lose their jobs."
Some of the problems alleged by the organization include child labor law infractions, insufficient health care plans, salary caps, and "a scheduling policy which makes it impossible for employees to have a normal life or spend regular time with their families," according to their Web site.
Wal-Mart launched a plan in September to slash the prices of almost 300 generic prescription drugs, which some analysts said could help the Arkansas-based retailer address an image problem stemming from the controversial policies on health insurance coverage for employees.
"We're not trying to do Wal-Mart harm," Lamar Stringfellow, who has worked at the Tillman's Corner Wal-Mart for 15 years, said Friday evening. "We just want them to treat us right."
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
