Nearly two thousand people gathered outside the CIW community center in downtown Immokalee yesterday for the 12th annual "Year of the Worker" party...
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... and while it was indeed a party -- and a day-long party at that -- the gathering provided a great space for some serious business as well, with a petition set for delivery at BK headquarters this April 28th drawing crowds to the table at the corner of the stage. |
The party drew revelers young...
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... and old...
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... for a day of music...
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... and fun... |
... and some serious moments... |
... including an address by the Collier County Sheriff's Department's Anti-Trafficking Unit. Here a member of the unit calls attention to the educational materials circulating in the crowd, materials to help win the fight against modern-day slavery in Florida's fields.
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And, of course... |
... the most serious matter of the day... |
... signing... |
... and more signing! |
Order among the huge crowd was kept ably, and amiably, by party committee members... |
... who also kept the crowd hydrated, putting a familiar tool to the unfamiliar task of distributing ice-cold sodas under the afternoon sun and temperatures in the upper 80's. |
Animators and members of the CIW's women's group spread the word of their weekly meetings and new English classes...
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... while other members braved the crowd to belt out a tune in an impromptu karaoke competition. |
A favorite staple of the annual parties is the moment when hats and shirts are tossed into the crowd... |
... though this shirt didn't exactly cooperate. |
The party continued into the night, with bands and speeches filling the day... |
... and the spirit of our continuing struggle for dignity filling hearts with strength for the months and years ahead. |
