Hundreds of people flooded streets in Southeast during a two-mile walk to raise awareness about food injustices in neighborhoods east of the Anacostia River.
DC Greens Executive Director Lauren Shweder Biel says about 500 D.C. residents and leaders participated in the Grocery Walk on Saturday, which began at the only grocery store in all of Ward 8.
The protesters were made up of “this incredible mix of Ward 7 and 8 residents, community leaders, and allies from across the city,” according to Biel, whose non-profit DC Greens organized the event and runs D.C.’s Produce Plus program, among other initiatives.
Marchers chanted things like “food justice—we will deliver, food justice—east of the river” and “all these people, one store—Ward 8 deserves more.” Many of them raised carrots in the air, some carried grocery bags, and others held signs during the 40 minute walk from the Giant in Congress Heights to downtown Anacostia.
Studies and reports continuously show how communities in Wards 7 and 8 are food deserts. Research has also found health disparities between D.C.’s white residents and black residents—many of whom reside in Wards 7 and 8.
Out of 49 D.C. grocery stores in 2016, Ward 7 had two full-service grocery stores and Ward 8 had just one, according to D.C Hunger Solutions. At both Safeway stores in Ward 7, residents have had to contend with decaying food, poor customer service, and lengthy waits to check out, among other issues.
Many east-of-the-river residents don’t drive, which means they have to walk or take public transportation miles away to get groceries. Other residents frequent stores outside of the city because they’re closer or have better options.
Ward 8 Councilmbemer Trayon White kicked off the walk with remarks at the grocery store. He also spoke later at a rally outside of the United Black Fund on Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue—about a block away from Anacostia Metro station.
Ward 7 Councilmember Vincent Gray, Ward 3 Councilemember Mary Cheh, At-Large Councilmbembers David Grosso and Elissa Silverman, D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, and Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity Courtney Snowden also participated in the march and rally.
“It was amazing; there was incredible energy,” Biel says. “As we were walking, everybody passing by were honking their horns. One lady actually saw the signs and heard the chants, pulled her car over, and joined the walk.” Biel estimates that about 100 people joined the group after they began the march that stretched over about three and a half blocks.
Other people waited at the rallying point, where groups such as Dreaming Out Loud and BYP 100, as well as government agencies provided information. Speakers at the rally addressed not only the lack of grocery stores, but community access to land, supporting food cooperatives, and making sure that the city supports and doubles-down on healthy food access programs that are already in existence, Biel says.
In an interview before the walk, White told DCist that two stores, German-based grocer Lidl and locally-owned Good Foods Market, are slated to open in Ward 8 in 2018. Gray said that he’s in talks with grocers to come in Ward 7, and he’s recently introduced two bills at the D.C. Council that will give business owners tax breaks and other financial incentives to set up shop in Wards 7 and 8.
In the meantime, Biel says DC Greens is organizing the D.C. Food Justice Teach-In on October 26 to give residents more information about things like food co-ops and urban farming “and really leave with action items for themselves to get involved on a local level.”
