Publix protest in Ft. Myers

Publix protest in Ft. Myers, FL portent of things to come in next week’s Thanksgiving Week of Supermarket Action!

This past weekend, dozens of farmworkers from Immokalee and their local Southwest Florida allies joined forces for a spirited protest outside of a brand new Publix store in north Ft. Myers, crashing the grand opening party with a clear, compelling message of economic justice. From the local FOX affiliate, WFTX-TV, report on the protest:

“FORT MYERS, Fla. – Protestors were not welcome on Publixs’ property but their message was clear.

‘We are farm workers and we have families,’ said Silvia Perez. ‘We deserve to be paid a fair amount and also for our rights to be respected.’

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) is asking the new North Fort Myers supermarket along with the entire $25 billion dollar chain to join the group’s Campaign for Fair Food.

‘I’d like Publix to sign the farmworkers agreement and the code of ethics,’ said Sister Carol Beevers, the director of the Mother of God House of Prayer.

They want the tomatoes sold here to come from farms paying higher wages and with safer working conditions.

‘So that if abuses or hazardous working conditions exist, they can be addressed,’ said Chris McBride, from St. Columbkill Church…” read more

For more on the exciting protest, definitely take a few moments to check out full story here, including a great video report.

But good as the protest was, it was only a preview of much more to come when the Thanksgiving Week of Supermarket Action kicks off in earnest next week! Here below is a quick list of the places where actions are already being planned, with more to come in the days ahead:

PUBLIX

Sarasota, FL

Orlando, FL

FIU in Miami, FL

Miami Beach, FL

Homestead, FL

Tallahassee, FL

Tampa, FL

Lakeland, FL

Gainesville, FL

Pensacola, FL

Port Charlotte, FL

Alabama (TBA)

Nashville, TN

KROGER/AHOLD

Cincinnati, OH

Naples, FL

Denver, CO

Pittsburgh, PA

Philadelphia, PA

New Haven/Providence (CT, RI)

Santa Ana, CA

Washington, DC

Chicago, IL

Ann Arbor, MI

Oakland, CA

Boston, MA

This Thanksgiving will truly be one to remember, as Fair Food activists from Florida to California will be taking to the streets to demand justice with their holiday feasts! If you see your city on the list above, or you’re interested in organizing a Thanksgiving Week protest in your hometown, contact us at organize@sfalliance.org, and we’ll hook you up with other nearby Fair Food activists. Together, you can let your local supermarket know that now is the time to join the Fair Food Program!