Nearly two thousand people gathered outside the CIW community center in downtown Immokalee yesterday for the 12th annual “Year of the Worker” party… … 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…
…and old…
…for a day of music…
…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.
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…
… 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.
