We did a small delegation inside to the manager, and when he realized who we were he said that he would only talk to us outside, and basically just repeated what they said about how they’re already doing it, how they’re paying the 3¢/lb. which is “more than what the CIW is asking.” When I called him out on the fact that it was a different premium because they’re a different type of tomatoes, he sort of stumbled and said that we should look at the website, to which Rabbi Penzner said that we’d all seen the website, but that we weren’t satisfied with its content. After that he sort of stumbled and repeated himself several times: check the website, contact TJ’s directly, etc. Basically, though, once they’re confronted with the facts, they don’t know how to respond.

Overall, it was very successful here on what was probably the coolest afternoon yet this Fall. Hope others are going well, too!”

At 3:30 we all assembled in the produce section and began a short prayer service, using an expanded version of Brian McLaren’s prayer, each one reading a section.

We left singing “Justice is a-comin”.

As we left, I presented an assistant manager with a copy of the letter to Publix signed by 24 Gainesville clergy.

We held a brief service of reflection at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, across the street, with Rev. Eve MacMaster (Emmanuel Mennonite), Rev. Jack Donovan (Highlands Presbyterian), Kimberly Hunter (IAIJ), and Rabbi Michael Joseph (Shir Shalom).

While we were praying in the store, IAIJ members were holding banners on the sidewalk at the main entrance to the shopping center. They joined us for the closing exercise at St. Michael’s.”