1,500 march on Publix!

risingsun_front

The sun of a new day — a bright new dawn of hope and human rights brought about by the tireless struggle of farmworkers and their allies through the Campaign for Fair Food — rose over the streets of Tampa yesterday as the Do the Right Thing Tour culminated in a huge, three-part march through the streets of Tampa and a spectacular pageant of people and puppets.

The pageant told the story of how decades of abuse and degradation in the fields is giving way today to hope for a future of fair wages and dignity — only to be threatened by the opposition of Publix, which would plunge farmworkers back into the darkness of the Harvest of Shame… and of how the alliance of workers and consumers overcomes that opposition in the end. Check out a photo report from the day here, and check back again soon to see a great new video from yesterday’s action!

See the photo report from Day 5 here!

The Associated Press story (“Farmworkers target Tampa Publix stores in protests,” 3/5/11) recorded the who, what and where of the day’s events:

More than 1,500 farmworkers and their advocates rallied for better pay at Publix stores today, calling for the supermarket chain to pay workers a penny more per pound for tomatoes.

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers group wrapped up a five-city national tour Saturday. Supporters from church groups also joined coalition members for the Tampa events….

“It’s not a question of whether we will win, but when. And when we do win, we will not only help free workers from oppressive conditions in the fields, but we will also free Publix from the impossible burden of supporting and justifying that oppression,” Lucas Benitez told the crowd.

And check out the rest of the great press from the day:

Then check back soon for another GREAT video recapping Day 5’s events.