This week, the CIW and the Alliance for Fair Food (AFF) are announcing a series of Florida summer protests to turn up the heat on Wendy’s and longtime Fair Food holdout Publix Supermarkets ahead of the fall season! Today, we bring you the AFF report from last weekend’s kick-off action in Sarasota, and the schedule for the rest of the summer (including a protest in Orlando this Sunday!) from the Alliance for Fair Food.
The summer action season started off with the first-ever joint protest by March for Our Lives Tampa Bay and the Fair Food Movement, drawing hundreds of supporters this past Sunday:
ACTION REPORT: March for Our Lives Tampa Bay teams up with Fair Food movement in St. Pete for Publix and Wendy’s protest!
This past weekend, in the full heat of CIW’s Florida Summer of Action, 150+ farmworkers and allies gathered at Allendale United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, Florida, to call on Publix and Wendy’s to join the Fair Food Program. True to form, Tampa Bay – which has long been home to some of the Fair Food movement’s liveliest Florida actions – did not disappoint!
Pastor Andy Oliver of Allendale United Methodist Church, where the 1-mile march began, gave a blessing to ground us, “Let us pray. Oh God of many names . . . We call on Publix and Wendy’s to do the right thing and come to the table. God, give us strength and courage to be in solidarity with each other that we might together find our liberation. Amen.”
Farmworkers and their families were joined by students from March For Our Lives Tampa Bay, connecting the workers’ movement to end violence in the fields with the students’ organizing to end gun violence in society. Students with March for Our Lives are continuing to demand that Publix honors its commitment to withhold political contributions to candidates back by the National Rifle Association. In the words of March for Our Lives Tampa Bay’s co-presidents Alyssa Ackbar and Macy McClintock: “After actions taken by the national March for Our Lives organization, Publix promised to stop endorsing NRA-backed politician Adam Putnam. Today, we march in solidarity with you . . . We are so proud to be here today marching with all of you and to be fighting against the injustice of violence that companies like Publix and Wendy’s continue to ignore every day. Human rights can’t be ignored.”…
Make sure to check out the full report over at the Alliance for Fair Food website. If you’re ready to get in on the action, check out the full summer schedule of Fair Food actions across Florida! Here’s the announcement from the AFF:
Coming up: The Fair Food Nation takes on holdouts Wendy’s and Publix with a Florida “Summer of Action”!
… In August and September, Immokalee farmworkers, their families and their many steadfast allies throughout the Sunshine State will build on the Wendy’s Boycott momentum while casting a spotlight on Publix’s failure to respect workers’ rights. If you’re in Florida, we invite you, as consumers and allies, to join us for protests and marches at the following locations:
Orlando, FL
Sunday, August 12 at 2 PM – 4 PM
4510 Semoran Blvd S. Orlando, FL 32822
Facebook EventMiami, FL
Sunday, September 2 at 4 PM – 6 PM
3301 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33137
Facebook EventNaples, FL
Saturday, September 22
Time and location TBAFor inspiration, check out the reports from lively protests in Sarasota and Ft. Myers earlier this summer!
If you’re not in Florida or not able to take part in the series, sign up to participate in our “Farmworkers in the Pulpits/Bimah/Minbar” Labor Day weekend call to education and action (Sep. 1-2). If you’re a student or young person, consider applying for the 2018 Encuentro gathering in Immokalee (Sep. 20-23)!