Giant Thanksgiving Action

Weren’t able to make it to the GIANT Thanksgiving Action? No worries, we’ve got pictures!

Over 50 Manager letters were signed and delivered to the Giant manager. We got an incredibly supportive response from the greater community, and gathered a few more allies. The action was definitely a success and we can’t wait to see what’s next for DC Fair Food, The Student/Farmworker Alliance and The Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

With just a few more weeks left in December, DC Fair Food is gearing up for a brand new year. Keep a look out for new events and actions.

-DC FAIR FOOD-

CIW SPRING ACTION: March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food (150 miles!)

March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food!

A 150 mile, 2 week march from Immokalee, FL to front steps of Publix headquarters in Lakeland, Fl

—

On Dec. 12th, 2012, the CIW announced that this year’s spring action will be harkening back to the epic “March for Dignity, Dialogue and a Fair Wage” that took place in February of 2000.

At the start of a New Day, with the Fair Food Program under way and several historical advances made in the agriculture industry, farmworkers still face the lack of rights and respect in the field and consumers still face the lack of right to fair food.

That is why the CIW has announced the:

March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food!

from March 3rd, 2012 – March 17th, 2013, CIW members and allies will be marching in solidarity through the state of Florida to demand a more just agriculture system and to invite Publix to take part in that change.

Yours truly, DC Fair Food, will be arranging a caravan to head down to Florida to participate in this historical march. Save the date!

This march is open to long-time CIW allies and brand new supporters. This is your chance to join the CIW family and participate in the making of history…

2/20/2000: The two-week, 230-mile “March for Dignity, Dialogue, and a Fair Wage” (right) begins in Ft. Myers…
… 3/3/2013: Join us as we take to the streets again for the two-week “March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food” from Ft. Myers to Lakeland, Florida!

Email dcfairfood@gmail.com to let us know if you would like to participate or help organize.

In solidarity,
The DC Fair Food Crew

National Food Day: Harvest of Shame film screening

Harvest of Shame film screening

in honor of National Food Day, DC Fair Food and Bloombars will be hosting a film screening of the historical 1960s film, Harvest of Shame

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2012
Bloombars, Washington DC
$10 suggested donation
7:00pm – 9:00pm

film screening • free food • discussion on modern day agriculture industry

RSVP to the Facebook event HERE.

Harvest of Shame was a television documentary made by broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow and aired on CBS News the day after Thanksgiving in 1960. The film shows the historical plight of agriculture workers in the American agricultural industry, a truth that had been untold until the airing of Harvest of Shame.

Murrow’s opening narration begins with:

This scene is not taking place in the Congo. It has nothing to do with Johannesburg or Cape Town. It is not Nyasaland or Nigeria. This is Florida. These are citizens of the United States, 1960. This is a shape-up for migrant workers. The hawkers are chanting the going piece rate at the various fields. This is the way the humans who harvest the food for the best-fed people in the world get hired. One farmer looked at this and said, “We used to own our slaves; now we just rent them.”

Murrow’s closing narration of the film:

The migrants have no lobby. Only an enlightened, aroused and perhaps angered public opinion can do anything about the migrants. The people you have seen have the strength to harvest your fruit and vegetables. They do not have the strength to influence legislation. Maybe we do. Good night, and good luck.”

DC Fair Food will hold a film screening and then a facilitated discussion reflecting on the reality that this film depicts of 1960 agricultural Florida and the current state of the agricultural industry, which before the work of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, had not changed much since the oppressive conditions depicted in the film

We hope you can join us for this powerful discussion!

In solidarity,
The DC Fair Food Crew

_____
Free food will be provided by Zenful Bites, a new Washington DC-based company that seeks to provide and improve
food education, food access,and sustainability for all residents of the DC metro area.

A special presentation will be made by Sustainable DC, a Mayor Gray initiative crafted for and by the city’s diverse and knowledgeable community with the ultimate goal of making DC more socially equitable, environmentally responsible and economically competitive.

Bloombars is located at 3222 11th St NW, Washington, District of Columbia, 20010.

“Una Visita de Honor” por Carmen Esquivel

Una visita de honor

Esciribó para la CIW
Carmen Esquivel
En agradecimiento al grupo del estudiantes que asistieron al Encuentro
Sep 13,14, 15, y 16 2012

Hace tres dias que el sol resplandenciente esparcio sus coloridos rayos para amenizar
la llegada de todos ustedes jovenes estudiantes uno a uno fueron llegando hasta que
aparecio la luna en el firmamento iluminando las sombras de la noche y el camino de
ustedes hacia el encuentro. El pueblo trabajador se fue a dormir esa noche con el alma
llena de euforia, las delicias de su visita se respiraba en el aire y volaba con alas de
nuestro pensamiento cuando el grupo de mujeres les dimos la bienvenida lo hicimos
con el corazon rebozante de alegria.

Asi el alba nos desperto con la certeza de saber que ustedes estudiantes estarian
realizando una labor social en nuestra comunidad para conocer nuestra union, nuestra
escuela la CIW donde aprendemos sobre nuestros derechos, sobre justicia y todo
lo que se ha venido lunchando durante años para terminar con las injusticias que se
enfrentan basadas en la falta de información de nuestros compañeros que has sido
victimas en el pasado sin olvidar que la campaña por comida justa es lo que tiene que
definirse si es que se desea hacer valer la voz del pueblo agricola.

Jovenes, gracias por su cooperación en aprender sobre la lucha nuestra de cada día.
Ayer el jubilo le ganó a todos los demás sentimientos cuando el silencio se interrumpio
con el lamento de lucha en nuestra protesta, fue el grito de paz del interior nuestro que
desea ganar con la razón del lado nuestro.

Aunque imagino que para ustedes el venir aquí representa un sacrificio por las
incomodidades que tienen que pasar, pero se les agradece enormemente su tiempo
y su apoyo. Ya se acerca la hora de partir deben estar felices nos ha ayudado y han
dado un paso más en sus estudios depués de haber oído sobre la Campaña por
Comida Justa y conocer el rostro demacrado por la pobreza del pueblo de Immokalee.
Por eso ya la carga será menos pesada para nosotros, los diás de espera en que le
ganemos a Publix y a Chipotle serán menos por que la campaña por comida justa
en ustedes encontró un refugio y tenemos fé que la mayoria desidira participar en
nuestra lucha regando la voz por su comunidad para que juntos le ganemos a esas dos
coporaciones.

Gracias al apoyo de cada uno de ustedes valientes muchachos. Estudiantes gracias
por el calor humano que ha traido a Immokalee durante su visita agradecemos el
embrace solidario el recuenrdo que nos quedara despues de que ustedes se hayan ido
nos servira para tolerar la fria indeferencia de la negación de los grandes ejecutivos a
nuestro movimiento por una vida digna que existira más allá del umbral del día con tal
de defender nuestros derechos, por que si pereceremos pero no será en silencio.

Nos causa tristeza saber que ustedes ya se tienen que marchar, pero el saber que el
proximo año volverán nos llena de alegría pues mientras tanto la voz de ustedes será la
energía que hará avanzar la campaña por comida justa, tal cual la alborada ilumina el
horizonte con la promesa del nuebo día, jovenes son la promesa de un mañana mejor
para Immokalee y la gente que siembra la joyas en los campos, riqueza del existir
humano.

————————————————————————————————–

A Visit of Honor

Written by Carmen Esquivel on behalf of the CIW in gratitude to the students who
attended the Encuentro Sept 13-16th, 2012

Three days ago, the gleaming sun cast down its colorful rays to brighten your journey
here. One by one you set out, until the moon appeared in the sky, illuminating
the night’s shadows and brightening your path to the Encuentro. The farmworker
community went to sleep that evening, its soul full of happiness; the delights of your
visit were breathed in with the air and flew forth with wings from our thoughts as the
Women’s Group welcomed you all, our hearts brimming with happiness.

The dawn awoke us with the certainty that you would be carrying out a human labor in
our community: coming here to know our unity, our school – the CIW – where we learn
about our rights, about justice, and everything that has come of many years of struggle
to end the injustices that we face based on a lack of information, which has made
victims of our comrades in the past — never forgetting that it is the Campaign for Fair
Food that has to be realized if we want to assert the voice of the farmworker community.

Young people, thank you for your cooperation in learning of our daily struggle.
Yesterday, jubilation triumphed over all other emotions when silence was broken by the
cry of struggle during our protest; it was the shout of our inner peace that wishes to win
with reason on our side.

Although I imagine that coming here represents a sacrifice for you all, we’re enormously
grateful for your time and your support. As the hour when we must part draws near,
you should be happy, for you have stood with us and advanced your studies having
heard about the Campaign for Fair Food and encountered the face haggard by the
poverty of the Immokalee community. For that reason, the load will be lighter for us; the
days of waiting for victory over Publix and Chipotle will be less because — in you — the

Campaign for Fair Food has found a refuge. We have faith that you will decide to join in
our struggle, to spread the word in your community so that together we will win against
these two corporations.

Thanks for the support of each one of you courageous young people. Students, thank
you for the human warmth you’ve brought to Immokalee during your visit. We are
grateful for your embrace of solidarity, the memory of which will remain long after you
all have gone and will help us tolerate the cold indifference and refusal of corporate
executives to recognize our movement for a dignified life; a life which will exist just
beyond the threshold of this day as long as we continue to defend our rights. Yes, one
day we will perish, but it will not be in silence!

It makes us sad to know that you all have to return home, but the knowledge that you
will come back next year fills us with joy. And in the meantime, your voice will be the
energy that advances the Campaign for Fair Food just as the dawn illuminates the
horizon with the promise of a new day. Young people, you are the promise of a better
tomorrow for Immokalee and the people who sow jewels in the fields, the richness of
human existence.

Chipotle Protest – July 25th – Dupont Circle!

Chipotle Protest!!

The CIW has officially begun its campaign against Chipotle, asking them to sign the Fair Food Agreement.

Major Washington D.C. Action // Dupont Circle
Wednesday, July 25th 6:00pm
Picket • Delegation

The Chipotle campaign is a campus centered campaign that focuses on students and to engage with the Campaign for Fair Food. Come out for a dynamic, educational and peaceful action!

Consciousness + Commitment = Change

Everyday, we as students, customers and consumers are deceived by the fast food industry to make us believe that we are eating just and healthy food. Chipotle is no different – read on to learn about how Chipotle lies to its customers everyday!

We hope to see you there!
-The DC Fair Food Crew

New video from the Giant action!

At this final stop on the CIW’s Northeast Tour, we were honored to be joined by the many allies and Giant shoppers from the D.C. region, including Rev. Michael Livingston, of the Poverty Initiative at the National Council of Churches of Christ, as well as Jeff Krehbiel of the Church of the Pilgrims, and Ben Burkett and Kathy Ozer of the National Family Farm Coalition, who were deeply concerned about Ahold USA’s (Giant’s parent company) refusal to participate in the Fair Food Program.

As a final stop on their Northeast Tour, the CIW joined D.C. Fair Food to celebrate D.C.’s Emancipation Day — as well as mourn the failure, to say the least, of Ahold USA to carry on the legacy of the fight against slavery and oppression. As CIW member Leonel Perez said at the gathering: Not only are they not participating, but they are opening the door for growers who don’t want to participate. Who don’t want their workers to receive the new rights education training in the field as well as basic standards like access to water and shade, freedom from physical and sexual abuse, and freedom from the looming nightmare of modern-day slavery. By saying they are satisfied with the status quo (e.g., that they’ve been just fine at monitoring working conditions all along, obviously), Ahold validates the absence of these protections. With their “Standards of Engagement” and by working with growers who are participating in the Fair Food Program, Ahold claims that they can keep the workers in their supply chain safe from abuse. They don’t need those pesky enforcement mechanisms, or any monitoring organizations that operate independently from the growers themselves, and certainly don’t need any involvement from the people most affected, and most knowledgeable: Farmworkers.

Read the CIW’s full response to Ahold USA’s position here!

Northeast Tour about to hit D.C.!

2012 Northeast Tour keeps rolling!

Silence and evasion from Stop & Shop, Giant, Chipotle reflects unjustifiable refusal to participate in Fair Food Program

Major Action at Giant/Ahold USA Corporate Offices
Landover, MD (just outside Washington DC)
Tuesday, April 17 4:00pm
Picket • Theater • Delegation
More info here

The Northeast Tour has been a resounding success thus far, as the tour crew of CIW and SFA members has been greeted warmly and enthusiastically by scores of friends and allies, old and new, from Boston to Philadelphia, Carlisle to the New York City area.

The reception from Stop & Shop, Giant, Ahold and Chipotle representatives, however, has been a bit more muted.

At every stop along the way thus far, representatives of Ahold, Giant, Stop & Shop and Chipotle have been utterly unwilling to have a real dialogue on their respective company’s untenable and inexplicable refusal to embrace the Fair Food Program and its promise for real, verifiable, concrete change in Florida’s fields. One Giant rep in particular revealed some interesting things about Ahold’s approach to ensuring (or not…) that its tomatoes are not harvested in conditions of exploitation or abuse… More on that later.

With each refusal, the resolve of the tour crew, allies in the Northeast, and the Fair Food Movement across the country only grows. Stay tuned…

peace,
the Immokalee crew

P.S. The CIW is featured in the new book “Food Movements Unite” from Food First. You can check out the CIW’s chapter here.

P.P.S. It’s been five years since our victory in the McDonald’s campaign!

Mon. 3.26 @ 8PM: Strategy Conference Call for April Action!

We’ve just got some great news that there will be a big action here to mobilize the campaign against Giant in mid-April with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers!

Please join us for a D.C.-Baltimore Strategy conference call on Monday, 3/26, at 8 pm.

Call: 218-339-4300
Pass code: 306419

hope to talk to everyone then!

D.C. Fair Food Crew

Riding the Wave of the Fast for Fair Food…

On March 10, 60 farmworkers and their allies broke bread after fasting for a week in front of the Publix Headquarters in Lakeland, Florida.

Among the many supporters, students and youth represented communities from across the United States!

Check out this letter from business students in Washington, DC, from the March 16 update from the CIW website!

Support for Fast, Campaign, wide, deep…

Nearly 1,000 Fair Food activists flocked to Lakeland last Saturday to show their support for the 61 workers and allies who fasted for six-days to demand that Publix do its part to support the CIW’s
Fair Food Program. Click here to see a remarkable photo slide show by Forest Woodward, a photographer who spent the entire week with the fasters as part of a documentary film crew.

A week later, support still coming in…

The impact of last week’s Fast for Fair Food will not be fully known for some time to come, but the unprecedented dimensions of support for the fasters and their cause became clear even before the Fast began and only continued to grow after the Fast came to an end last Saturday.

The breadth of support — from faith and student allies to small farmers, environmental activists, and more — has been extraordinary. We’ve collected here below a few of the very latest messages of support that made their way into CIW headquarters.

We begin with perhaps the most unlikely — and so in many ways most encouraging — statement: a letter to Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw signed by 149 students from the MBA Evening Program, Classes of 2012 and 2013, at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. Its logic is simple, clear, and most of all, good for business. We include the letter here in its entirety:

Dear Mr. Crenshaw,We are writing to express our concern about Publix’s continued refusal to sign the Fair Food Agreement developed by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) or, at a minimum, to meet with this organization of farmworkers. We strongly urge you to reconsider your position.As MBA students, we appreciate your fiduciary duty to shareholders and desire to maximize profits. However, Publix’s mission statement commits the company to being “involved as responsible citizens in our communities.” We believe a commitment to responsible corporate citizenship includes sourcing products in a way that respects the human rights and the dignity of workers throughout the supply chain. We were therefore dismayed to read a statement by your company’s spokesperson, Dwaine Stevens, that, “if there are some atrocities going on, it’s not our business.” Such disregard for the health and safety of workers in your supply chain is not befitting a company whose mission includes responsible citizenship in its communities, which include the communities in which your products are produced.We encourage you to live up to the admirable commitment in your mission statement by joining with other food industry leaders—Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and many others—in pledging to purchase only ethically grown tomatoes. Specifically, we urge you to use only suppliers who adhere to the CIW code of conduct and implement an additional penny per pound premium for farmworkers. As consumers, we would gladly pay a small premium to know that the same workers who feed us will earn enough to feed their own families. As future business leaders, we aspire to work for companies that demonstrate the highest ethical principles in their treatment of employees, suppliers, and customers.

We appreciate your consideration on this matter.

Want more on the fast?

Check out the CIW’s initial announcement, and as always, visit the CIW online for the most recent updates on the Campaign for Fair Food!

Why Fast? A Reflection on the Fast for Fair Food

Our world is in incredible crisis right now, and yet, movements for greater social and economic justice are being dismissed. Those who turn away, I fear, have succumbed to the overwhelming and dominant notion that the path forward must be paved with the oppression of many so that a few may swell their financial gain. We are often battered with this vision for the future: as if it is simultaneously the best option as well as the only thing we, as a human family, are capable of.

Fasting as a form of non-violent action – the refusal to be compliant and silent in the face of profound injustice – is the tool of those who believe that every human being amounts to something more valuable than brick and mortar. Those who believe that the path of gross inequality and economic injustice is wholly and unequivocally unacceptable – primarily because it is deeply and morally wrong, and additionally because it is unsustainable in any realistic longer vision of our future.

The Campaign for Fair Food is an amplified collection of voices of farmworkers, young people, people of faith, and many other community members who are breathing life into the possibility of an alternative future. Already, in two decades, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and their allies have made enormous gains: increased pay for farmworkers in Florida, basic rights in the field such as shade, water, and freedom from violence, and a growing partnership of actors spread across the food chain who are shaping an entirely new, concrete system that fosters dialogue, respect, and accountability. Only last week, Trader Joe’s joined the Fair Food family, demonstrating, alongside Whole Foods, that supermarkets can join the fast food and food service industries in transforming U.S. agriculture from the soil to the kitchen.

Even in the same moment that we congratulate Trader Joe’s and the nine other companies who have signed Fair Food Agreements with the CIW, there are still companies like Publix who are refusing to come to the table – who claim that their hands are clean and they have no role to play. This attitude is not only profoundly backward, given that ten companies are taking part in the Campaign, but it is incredibly dangerous. As John F. Kennedy said of those individuals and institutions who opposed the civil rights movement, “Those who do nothing are inviting shame as well as violence.” With each day that passes that they refuse to join the Campaign, companies like Publix threaten the great but fragile gains that have been made.

It is not enough to do nothing. It is not enough to offer empty words. It is not enough to give out food to families facing poverty while actively participating in those systems which produce poverty for those who pick the food.

“If he is still saying, “Not enough,” it is because he does not feel that he should be expected to be grateful for the halting and inadequate attempts of his society to catch up with the basic rights he ought to have inherited automatically, centuries ago, by virtue of his membership in the human family” – Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Why We Can’t Wait

That is why, as a young person profoundly invested in the future, as a Publix shopper, as a member of the human family, I am fasting for six days with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in March. I will not concede to a future which requires routine violence in the name of Publix’s profit – or a future which marks someone else’s suffering as my “gain” in the form of an artificially cheap tomato. The sustainable path that I want to construct, that I am depending on, requires dignity and respect for the whole human family – period.

Marley Moynahan

February 15, 2012

D.C. Fair Food