Day Fourteen Photo Report:
March reaches
Lakeland!
On Saturday, March 16th -- Day 14 of the March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food -- marchers formed one final morning reflection circle ahead of the last full day of marching, a day that would take the Fair Food movement deep into Lakeland once again and set up Sunday's 6-mile finale to Publix's corporate headquarters.
As has been custom throughout the last two weeks, veteran marchers greeted newcomers, of whom there were plenty as caravans of Fair Food allies continued to arrive from throughout Florida and around the country.
With signs at the ready...
... and precautions taken for another long day under the unforgiving Florida sun...
... the march set off from Plant City along the 12.5 mile route to the day's destination in Lakeland.
The march, which has continued to swell in its final days...
... steadily made its way through the outskirts of Lakeland...
...
until they reached the city itself and their first rest stop at St. Joseph's Catholic church in Lakeland, where they were received by Bishop John Noonan of the Diocese of Orlando (left), a long time supporter of the Fair Food Program who wrote last spring:
"The challenge for all of God's people is to work to create the reality of the kingdom right here, right now ... We pray for Publix corporate leaders that God will inspire them to work in collaboration with the Immokalee Workers to advance the rights of agricultural workers. We pray for all who labor that during this season of Lent that justice will be achieved through just wages and that the dignity and rights of those who work to bring food to our tables be respected."
Bishop Noonan was hardly alone in his support for the Fair Food Program as a religious leader. Pictured with him above and the CIW's Lucas Benitez (far right) is Graham Hart, General Presbyter of Peace River Presbytery, who also addressed the marchers as they headed out from their lunch break and joined the march for the last several miles into Lakeland.
And not pictured above but on the march for the past two days has been one of the oldest friends of the CIW, best selling author and activist Shane Claiborne, who spoke at the final rally of Day Fourteen and participated in the delegation visit to the manager of the Southgate Publix that was the location of that moving, and beautiful rally (read on for pics!).
As the afternoon shadows began to grow long, the march made its way
through downtown Lakeland...
... where tree-lined streets provided a much-appreciated respite from the sun.
And as that afternoon sun gave way to the warm hues of the golden hour, marchers finally arrived at their destination, the same Southgate Publix that the CIW and its allies first visited
in December 2009.
In keeping with the spirit of the entire march, the Day Fourteen's closing event was every bit as much a joyous celebration of the new day dawning in Florida's fields...
... as it was a rebuke of Publix's stubborn commitment to the old order of abuse and exploitation.
The celebration wound down, and marchers then gathered to listen to speeches and prayers...
... and to reflect on the future that they are creating together...
... before closing with one more candlelight vigil...
... appealing to the men and women who run the $28 billion corporation that calls this community home to consider, once again, the opportunity before them to do what their founder would, without doubt, call "the right thing" and join the Fair Food Program.
But, wait, that's not it! This amazing eve-of-the-final-day wrap-up wouldn't be complete without one more video to give you a window into all the action, emotion, and fun of the day, and so here it is, your Day Fourteen video:
Bonus Pics!...
Click here for more incredible bonus pictures from Day Fourteen!
Check back tomorrow for the full media report from the final six miles to Publix corporate headquarters and the culmination of the 200-mile March for Rights, Respect, and Fair Food!