Alliance for Fair Food announces National Day of Prayer and Fasting in support of OSU student fast!

Last week, Ohio State University students declared a weeklong fast to begin March 20th calling on the university administration to cut Wendy’s campus lease unless the fast-food giant joins the Fair Food Program.  Here they are seen at a gathering yesterday in Columbus painting protest art ahead of next week’s actions.

As CIW members and allies in Immokalee put the finishing touches on banners and theater sets for the Return to Human Rights Tour, the Alliance for Fair Food calls for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting in support of OSU students’ fast on March 24th

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) pens a powerful letter urging Wendy’s to join the Fair Food Program and inviting Presbyterians to participate in next week’s call to pray and fast!

Next week, students at the Ohio State University and members of the Columbus community will launch a six-day fast to advance the Wendy’s Boycott and the campaign to cut Wendy’s campus lease with OSU. In solidarity with fasters and farmworkers making their way up to Columbus for the Return to Human Rights Tour’s big weekend of action March 24-26, the Alliance for Fair Food is calling for a National Day of Prayer and Fasting next Friday, March 24! On this day, communities of faith and conscience will fast, pray, and take action to amplify farmworkers’ struggle for justice in the fields and turn all eyes towards the decisive protests taking place that weekend in Wendy’s own hometown. 

Stay tuned for more on the National Day of Prayer and Fasting, and get in touch with organize@allianceforfairfood.org if you or your community would like to take part!

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A) once again takes the lead…

In an article published yesterday, March 15th, on presbyterianmission.org, an official website of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), national Presbyterian officials expressed the church’s strong support for students at Ohio State University preparing to launch a six-day fast in support of the CIW’s Fair Food Program: 

LOUISVILLE – Students at The Ohio State University (OSU) and local community members will initiate a week-long fast beginning March 20 in an attempt to convince the Wendy’s company, headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, to join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) award-winning Fair Food Program (FFP).

In support of their act of conscience, the Presbyterian Church issued a letter to Wendy’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Todd Penegor, citing its concern over Wendy’s decision to abandon U.S. workers who are protected by the Fair Food code of conduct rather than join fourteen corporations who currently recognize Fair Food standards. Stated Clerk of the General Assembly, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, interim executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, Tony De La Rosa, and the Rev. Denise Anderson and the Rev. Jan Edmiston, Co-Moderators of the 222nd General Assembly (2016), signed the letter…

“The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has a longstanding commitment to the basic human rights and dignity of all who labor to provide food for our tables, here in the United States and across the world,” noted Nelson. Citing the letter, he said, “Our concern, in this instance, is the failure of Wendy’s to provide adequate protection and justice for the workers who labor in the fields to provide tomatoes for Wendy’s products”…

“People of faith have a moral obligation to stand together with people impacted by exploitative structures,” said Andrew Kang Bartlett, national associate of the Presbyterian Hunger Programs. “Many Presbyterians have enormous privilege and access to power, which gives them added responsibility to show up in the name of justice.” read more

PC(U.S.A.) officials also invited the church’s more than 1.5 million members to join in the National Day of Prayer and Fasting. 

“We are encouraging Presbyterians around the country to pray for the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and the fasters in Columbus on March 24, the National Day of Prayer and Fasting,” added the Rev. Rebecca Barnes, coordinator of the Presbyterian Hunger Program.

Once again, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) – the first major denomination to officially endorse the Wendy’s Boycott back in May of last year – is taking the lead in recognizing the OSU students’ brave action in support of Fair Food and lending its official imprimatur to their efforts.  More expressions of support for the students’ fast from faith allies of the Campaign for Fair Food are expected in the days ahead.  

Meanwhile, here in Immokalee, CIW members and allies spent the last weekend before this morning’s launch of the big Return to Human Rights Tour wrapping up production of van loads of protest art and theater props for the two-week long action.  Here below are a few photos from CIW headquarters this week to give you just a taste of the visual extravaganza awaiting supporters in over a dozen cities preparing to receive the Immokalee crew along the tour route:

The Tour launches today, but it’s not too late for you to show your support for the workers’ efforts and donate to the official tour fund.  You can help us raise $10,000 for the CIW tour bus, which will carry CIW members, allies, and the Fair Food message across 2,000 miles and through more than a dozen cities by clicking here.

As always, thanks for your support, and see you on the Tour!