Why there are protests at Walmart on Black Friday

The Black Friday shoppers scurrying into the Walmart near 36th Street and Thomas will probably ignore the protesters who plan to be outside the store, even though the presence of the protesters helps to explain the bargains inside the store.

Note the picture accompanying this blog.

It was taken at an Oklahoma City Walmart where employees are asking co-workers to donate food to other employees, presumably because they don't make enough at the store to support their families.

"Let's succeed by donating to associates in need!!!" reads the sign on the bin.

An actual living wage might help.

Then again, that might cut into those Black Friday bargains.

The company says the food drive in Oklahoma City is for "associates currently on leave of absence."

Which still doesn't answer the living wage questions that have been raised about Walmart for a very long time.

There have been protests like this in Phoenix before, even a few at the home of Walmart chairman Rob Walton. Organizers in Phoenix say "up to 100 Walmart workers and community members" will participate here. And there are supposed to be 1,600 other protests going on at Walmarts across the country on Friday.

But .... we really like those bargains.

And I'm not trying to change your mind about your Christmas shopping or the really sweet deals you might be able to get on clothes or electronics or tools or whatever else you're looking for on Black Friday.

This is just to let you know a little bit about the men and women milling about with the protest signs, the ones you may not even notice in your zeal to get through the door.