INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGIL AT BURGER KING HEADQUARTERS DELIVERS “BITTER HERBS” FOR BK EXECS!

We begin this report with the end of the action: A moving interfaith prayer vigil this past Friday at Burger King headquarters in Miami wrapped up with a ritual borrowed from the Jewish observation of Passover and the story of the Exodus. Here, Rabbi Rebecca Lillian of South Florida Interfaith Worker Justice prayed over the traditional “bitter herbs” that symbolize and remember the bitterness of the Israelites’ slavery in Egypt. “They made their lives bitter through the hard labor, with mortar and brick and all kinds of work in the field. All their labor was carried out under conditions of excessive force.” (Exodus 1:14)	In keeping with the Jewish tradition, the participants prayed over the bitter herbs and then consumed them. Above, a delegation attempted to deliver a cup of the bitter herbs to Burger King executives. Burger King refused to send a representative, however, and the cup was taken instead by a member of the (sizable) security contingent on hand.
The day began with a briefing by CIW members to the Board of the National Farm Worker Ministry on the latest developments in the Campaign for Fair Food…	… then it was on to BK headquarters, where CIW members, including Nelly Aguilar (right), addressed the participants…
… including many long-time allies of the Campaign for Fair Food, such as the folks from the First Congregational United Chuch of Christ from Downers Grove, Illinois, stalwarts in the movement that brought McDonald’s behind the principles of farm labor justice…	… and Board members of the National Farm Worker Ministry, who have stood shoulder-to-shoulder with farm workers for decades.
Several religious leaders addressed the crowd, including Rev. Joeseph Keesecker of Agricultural Missions and National Farm Worker Ministry…	… Father John Cox of the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church…
… Olgha Sierra Sandman of Church Women United in Illinois and of National Farm Worker Ministry,…	… and Brother Mark Schroeder, President of National Farm Worker Ministry. Together, they led a prayer in call and response that is powerful enough to be included here in its entirety, and to be the last word for the report from this moving vigil:

Leader: For all hard working, but poorly paid farm workers….
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: For all victims of discrimination, harassment, and other indignities….
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: For Burger King that it may honor the dignity of those who harvest its tomatoes by ensuring a fair wage….
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: For all farm workers who are enslaved and forced to work against their will
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: For Burger King that it may join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and McDonald’s in enacting an industry-wide monitoring system to ensure an end to slavery in the fields….
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: That Burger King and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers may work together for improved wages and conditions for farm workers….
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: That farm workers may soon gain the justice we all seek….
Response: We pray, O God.
Leader: That with compassion and strength we may work for a better world where all your children share in your abundance….
Response: We pray, O God.