Day Eleven Photo Report: The March for Rights, Respect, and Fair Food reaches Tampa!

(note: don't miss the bonus pics at the end of today's update, and click here for still more!)

The march completed its northward leg yesterday by reaching the city of Tampa, where the marchers were received from start to finish like conquering heroes, a reception that included a massive -- and remarkably creative -- candlelight vigil (above) at a Publix store in Temple Terrace, just outside of Tampa.

The march rolled into Tampa on the morning of Day Eleven, taking advantage of the clear skies and cool temperatures that followed Day Ten's rain to get an early start.

And as has been the case when the march passed through other cities on the route, its ranks swelled as it entered Tampa...

... glowing with new faces and new energy.

Among those new faces were several old allies, including Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Torster of T'ruah, the "organization of rabbis from all streams of Judaism that acts on the Jewish imperative to respect and protect the human rights of all people," shown here walking (on the left) with the Rev. Noelle Damico of the Presbyterian Church U.S.A...

... and Pastor Miguel Estrada from Mision Peniel in Immokalee, whose inspirational reflections on the theological underpinnings of social justice have become a standing-room-only tradition in the final community meetings before big actions every year in Immokalee (and whose message at the candlelight vigil later on Day Eleven, which you will see and hear below, was every bit as powerful as his Immokalee homilies).

Tampa Bay Fair Food organized a beautiful, hearty lunch -- and a balloon-filled welcome -- for the marchers by the shores of McKay Bay in Desoto Park...

... while other Tampa residents not affiliated with Tampa Bay Fair Food gave their own warm welcomes -- minus the balloons -- to the marchers.

As it has been virtually every step of the way...

... the reaction to the march in the street was strong and exceptionally positive in Tampa.

One of the highlights of Day Eleven was the time spent in Tampa's historic Ybor City neighborhood, a community "founded in the 1880s by cigar manufacturers and... populated by thousands of immigrants, mainly from Spain, Cuba, and Italy... notable for its multi-ethnic and multi-racial population and their many mutual aid societies."

Ybor city residents, like the rest of the people we met along the way in Tampa, were unfailingly warm and supportive to the march winding its way through their streets.

 
Check out the video above for a quick snapshot of the marchers' arrival in Tampa.

The marchers finally reached their destination at the Mary Help of Christians Center, weary and foot-sore from another long (15.5 miles, to be exact) day of marching, but not too weary to play a quick game (or two) of pick-up basketball...

... before eating a delicious dinner prepared, again, by the fine people of Tampa Bay Fair Food...

... and heading out to an extraordinarily moving candlelight vigil.

The turnout for the vigil was a powerful message of support for the marchers...

... as was the time, thought, and creativity put into every aspect of the vigil, especially the beautiful light sculptures created to highlight the name of the march.

After a time spent in silent witness along the side of the road, the crowd gathered for speeches by the marchers and their faith allies...

... including Pastor Miguel from Immokalee, whose devastating and heartfelt message for Publix left no doubt whatsoever about the righteousness of the marchers' cause. You can watch and listen to Pastor Miguel's message in the short video below.

 

The evening's vigil provided the marchers with still more wonderful and much needed food to continue their journey -- food, this time, for the soul, as the marchers will leave Tampa tomorrow and head west toward Lakeland with a renewed sense of mission, and of the deep and wide support for that mission, thanks to the tremendous efforts of their Fair Food allies in the Tampa Bay area.

Check back tomorrow for more from the road, as the marchers turn west and being the final leg of their journey to Publix corporate headquarters in Lakeland!

BONUS PICS!