Sunday’s Walk for Farmworker Justice started shortly after noon when nearly 200 workers from Immokalee arrived at the Publix on Florida Avenue on the edge of downtown Lakeland, hometown of the Publix supermarket chain.

It wasn’t long before the Immokalee contingent was joined by a growing corps of consumers from across the state and as far away as Atlanta, Georgia.

photo by Cindy Skop, Lakeland Ledger

… a development surely watched with growing concern by Publix’s crack team of human resources and “union avoidance” specialists.

Publix investigators, and their crew of videographers, have followed the CIW from protest to protest over the past two months — even crossing state lines into Alabama and Georgia — observing firsthand the steadily growing numbers demanding that Publix be held accountable for brutal human rights violations in its tomato supply chain. It seems the investigators’ job, at least in part, is to advise Publix on how best to combat organizing campaigns. And from the looks of things so far, they seem strongly predisposed to strategies of resistance more than urging Publix toward critical thinking, engagement, and reasoned dialogue. Of course, ongoing conflict, in the world of these “labor dispute experts,” does mean greater job security.

But while that’s fine for the Publix investigators and their employment prospects, it really doesn’t serve anyone else’s interests — farmworkers, consumers, participating growers, or, for that matter, Publix itself. Because while Publix may be convinced that the tactics of misdirection and resistance help protect its profits, that’s really just short-term thinking.

You see, in the long-run, stubborn resistance is a double-edged sword for Publix. The longer Publix fights progress, the more protests there will be, the more abuses will surface (like this latest news), and the more Publix customers will learn of the dehumanizing conditions — the grinding poverty, back-breaking stoop labor, wage theft, abusive supervisors, discrimination and sexual harassment and, yes, slavery — in Florida’s fields.

In other words, the Campaign for Fair Food will be like those Publix commercials that run incessantly during the holiday season, only the opposite, building awareness, consumer by consumer, of the reality of farm labor exploitation behind the Publix logo.

And knowledge is power – the power to make change.

… to the next generation of human rights leaders who will carry the banner well into the 21st century.

After another hour on the Publix picket line, these two Fair Food activists helped lead the all-important transition from protest to march.

Kerry Kennedy — herself a symbol of the passing of the torch of human rights leadership across generations — joined Lucas Benitez of the CIW at the helm of the two-mile march as it headed away from the Publix supermarket, …

After traversing dozens of city blocks and winding its way through the downtown corridor, the spirited march arrived at Kryger Park, where it was warmly welcomed by the CIW marimba conjunto.

The rally opened with a call and response between the marchers and more than a dozen clergy from across Florida. The call began:

“The Rev. Jim Boler (retired United Church of Christ minister): There is a human rights crisis in the fields of Florida today. The sub-poverty wages, abuses, and modern-day slavery cases faced by the men and women who harvest our tomatoes are immoral and unjust. This reality calls us to speak out.

The Rev. Jean Cooley (Westminster Presbyterian Church, Lakeland) :  On this day we say a profound ‘no’ to the continuation of a food system that exploits our sisters and brothers in the fields.

The Rev. Andy Bell (Lakewood United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg): On this day we say a resounding ‘yes’ to the emerging fair food model that ensures the dignity of farmworkers, a sustainable future of the Florida tomato industry, the social responsibility of food corporations, and fair food for consumers.”

And was punctuated by a sharp reminder to Publix executives:

“The Rev. Talia Raymond (First Congregational Church of Winter Park): For the leaders of Publix, that they may realize that there is no ‘fair market price’ for slavery.  Instead of turning a blind eye, may they address the problem by working with the CIW to enforce a code of conduct against slavery in the fields…”

The CIW followed, with a message carried by three of Immokalee’s leaders, Lucas Benitez, Gerardo Reyes, and Silvia Perez (pictured above, right, with Melody Gonzalez translating).

They spoke of the stark choice facing Publix in the weeks and months ahead. They explained how, on the one hand, the supermarket chain can continue to uphold the brutal status quo in Florida’s fields today, and how that path leads inexorably to escalating conflict with farmworkers and consumers.

But they also spoke of another path available to Publix today: the opportunity to support the emerging model for social responsibility in the Florida tomato industry, the opportunity to ensure that a “fair market price” for tomatoes allows workers and their families to live in dignity and without fear of their bosses, the opportunity, in the words of Publix’s own mission statement, to “be involved as responsible citizens in our communities.”

And they reminded Publix executives that they would return, in ever larger numbers, until Publix joins the CIW and its customers on the path away from exploitation and toward Fair Food.

The keynote speakers followed, with Stetson Kennedy taking the stage first. Mr. Kennedy gave his speech entirely in Spanish, after excusing himself for any errors he might make… given that he hadn’t spoken Spanish in 50 years!

Mr. Kennedy’s message was captured in a saying from the Spanish Civil War that he shared with the crowd: “Este dolor no se cura con resignacion“… This pain cannot be cured by resigning oneself, or giving up. He encouraged the crowd to never give up, until Publix agrees to demand respect for human rights in the fields.

Co-keynote speaker Kerry Kennedy followed after a rousing introduction by Rev. Mackenzie, who reminded the crowd of her father’s famous words, “Some see things as they are and ask, ‘Why?’ I dream of things that never were and ask, ‘Why not?'”

Ms. Kennedy spoke from her long-time support of the CIW and the Campaign for Fair Food and echoed the clergy in insisting that there can be no “fair market price” for slavery.

Then it was time for the young people of Immokalee to take the stage, led by Candace Perez, left, and Ana Ramirez, both students in Immokalee schools and children of farmworkers. Speaking from the heart, they described the many challenges facing farmworker families — long hours, sub-poverty pay, humiliation at the hands of those who would belittle farmworkers — and challenged Publix to make good on its claims to support Florida families by committing to improve the lives and working conditions for those families who work in Florida’s fields.

Candace and Ana then turned the mic over to the very youngest of Immokalee’s youth, the CIW Children’s Choir (or something like that…), which led the crowd in an rousing rendition of the inspirational — and educational — chant:

“J. U. S.,
J.U.S.T.I.C.E.,
What we want,
Is justice in Immokalee!”

Needless to say, the next generation left the other generations in the house with a few tears in their eyes as they left the stage.

photo by Scott Robertson

… but on an era. Today, in this new century with new and powerful tools of communication, no longer can the brutal conditions in our country’s fields be hidden from the public, no longer will “what happens in the fields stay in the fields.”

Rather, news of the dehumanizing conditions in Immokalee and wherever fruits and vegetables are picked will reach consumers and, increasingly, consumers will hold the companies that profit from the sale of those fruits and vegetables accountable for human rights violations in the fields.

The days of companies like Publix buying produce no questions asked are over, whether they realize it or not. It’s now only a question of whether Publix will be a leader — or a follower — in a movement that is already well underway. The next months will tell.