"No Family Dollar" was chanted by over a dozen protesters that gathered at the site of the newest Family Dollar store on Friday, August 24th, located at Fairburn Road and Benjamin Mays Drive in southwest Atlanta.

The stores have been in the forefront of resident's minds lately due to the fact that at least 2 stores are in the early stages of being erected in the area.

Residents continue to express disappointment and anger that these stores are multiplying in the SW Atlanta area.  A common statement, that can be heard throughout the neighborhood and at the protest from a NPU-H member is that, "Family Dollar brings crime (with it)." 

In addition to this store, there is another store also being built at Cascade Road and Benjamin Mays, which many people are upset about.  There have been multiple long-time standing stores on Martin Luther King and also on Cascade Road near the West End, that will continue to be in place. 

Councilman C.T. Martin, who represents the 10th District says that he, doesn't mind the other older stores that are already built and are spread apart, but he feels to add additional stores of the same brand and discount quality only "DE-valuates our property in our community."

The councilman and community members took a bus to the Family Dollar corporate offices earlier in the week to meet with them and express their opinions.  Those who made the journey said, that they felt like the corporation met with them just as a formality and were not open to hearing the community's concerns.

According to the city councilman, what's next is a possible moratorium on this particular building site and a possible passage of an ordinance for future stores.