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Indigenous Resistance Day, Caravan for Farm Worker Justice
Louisville, KY
While indigenous peoples mobilized across the Americas on October 12th, 25 social justice-minded persons in Louisville rallied for a Caravan for Farm Worker Justice as part of the Campaign for Fair Food led by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). October 12 is a day of inspiring people to connect the dots. Louisville, the sight of a dramatic victory with Taco Bell/Yum! Brands, now had its first demonstrations against the so-far intransigent Burger King restaurant chain, and also made a local Whole Foods store manager very aware of the dangers of contracting with the likes of Ag Mart for out-of-season tomatoes.
Gathering at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church and at the Community Garden there for a gratitude prayer to the four directions, Father Sun and Mother Earth, burning tobacco and palo santo and imagining a world in harmony, banners were tied to a van on loan and signs made ready. A group of first year and transfer seminarians from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary joined us, as well as some veteran allies. The first stop, a Burger King restaurant on Shelbyville Road, added to our numbers and brought out Louisville´s own Puppetistas, with their wonderful signs. A letter was then delivered to a very nervous store manager, who was relieved to know that we were not holding her personally culpable. Yes, she would be happy to send it along to corporate management!
Just up the road there is a bustling Whole Foods store, and when our large delegation marched in and asked to see the manager, lots of eyes batted. The manager, though, assured us that Whole Foods is committed to avoiding just the sorts of injustices, to buying as much locally as possible, and to purging its supply chain of mistreatment of animals and of humans. We asked him to look into their tomato supply chain and get back to us. He didn’t think they buy from Ag Mart, but we think they do, and just haven’t looked closely at the names under the names. Business cards were exchanged.
Banners fluttering, we drove across town in rush hour traffic to the strip of fast food restaurants on Louisville’s West End, at 22nd and Broadway, a commercial strip known to contribute to all manner of food-related illnesses, ranging from diabetes to heart disease and obesity. There in that virtual desert for truly fresh local produce, we railed once more against the injustices and intransigence of Burger King corporation. Up Up Fair Food Nation, Down Down Exploitation! Down with the King! Off with his Head! No more burgers, no more fries, Burger King must stop its Lies! No Justice! No Peace! One of the store employees came out to inquire what the hullabaloo was all about. Fliering to outgoing cars and conversing with a local thespian who is directing a play featuring tomatoes (and wanted to know who had made the wonderful signs), a great time was had by all.
When our delegation went to deliver the letter, the manager helpfully called regional and we got to converse on the phone with the regional manager!! Yes, they would take a look at the demands of CIW and the Alliance for Fair Food in the letter. Yes, they would send the message to corporate!!
Several Louisvillians will be joining the Nov 30 convergence in Miami at Burger King headquarters. The only question is: how many? See you in Miami!!
¡Viva la Resistencia Indigena! ¡Viva la Justicia Alimentaria!
¡Viva la Soberania Alimentaria!! Long Live Food Sovereignty!
Student Farmworker Alliance of Louisville
Agricultural Missions, Inc (AMI)
Sustainable Agriculture of Louisville (SAL)