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FARMWORKERS MARCH AGAINST PUBLIX IS WORTHY CAUSE; LACK OF ANSWERS/WELL-OILED PROTEST RAISE QUESTIONS
Tampa, FLORIDA, Wednesday, April 21, 2010
"Imokalee Farmworkers March, April 16, 2010, Tampa."
Socialist and civic activist Brian Moore participated in the initiation of the Immokalee Farmworker Freedom March the weekend of April 16th - 18th in Tampa, Florida. Moore joined approximately 250 TO 300 marchers in support of their right to a fair wage and to decent working conditions, in advocating for worker dignity, and in support of their complaints of Publix Supermarket corporation's unwillingness to influence worker contracts.
Moore cautioned that Publix's actions through separate contractors are the "latest corporate trend, which is to have a middleman contract, in order to avoid personal relations and social and communal responsibility, as well as to enable Publix to avoid giving human dignity when it comes to wages and workplace hazards."
On the otherhand, Moore, an active socialist, also raised serious questions regarding the efficiency, control and abundant resources provided for the march, possibly by labor unions and churches, as well as the authoritarian manner in which demonstration monitors controlled protester spontaneity and signs.
This was Moore's third civic demonstration in the last eight weeks involving protests of the Iraq and Afghanistan war (February), opposition to a Florida legislative bill adversely impacting school teachers and workers (March), and in support of the protesting Immokalee farmworkers rights and dignity as workers (April). The Immokalee march was the second demonstration for the civic activist in front of a particular Publix store, with the first occurring in Spring Hill, Florida, on February 20th, linking opposition to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to the faltering economy and loss of jobs and benefits for Publix workers.
Moore was part of a local group, NatureCoast Coalition for Peace and Justice, who joined St. Pete for Peace activists, both of whom have become involved in antiwar efforts and in providing support for teacher, farmworker and employee rights, wages and benefits, amongst other social causes.
The Tampa "Freedom March" route was the first part of a three-day 25-mile trek through Plant City and on to Lakeland, Florida, corporate home of the Publix supermarket chain. Publix does business with tomato farmers who employ some of the protesting farmworkers. Moore observed that the marchers were "accompanied by several dozen Tampa Police cars and motorcyclists, at least two police helicopters, plus a handful of State of Florida Highway Patrol cars as well." Buses, shuttles and a flatbed truck with music also accompanied the marchers along the entire route. Snacks, water and meals at the end of the day, along with accommodations, were made available to many of the protesters.
Moore met many demonstrators, with the non-farmworkers from out-of-state, with the majority of these college students being from Rhode Island, Colorado, California and the Midwest. Participating socialist students were from several midwest college campuses.
Also in attendance were Quaker, Catholic and Protestant denomination participants as well. The larger number of the protesters, though, said Moore, were mostly Hispanic farmworkers, who probably traveled from the local area farms throughout the state of Florida.
Moore was affected by the "efficiency and order of the march," and the fact that organizers seemed to have everything precisely in place. They even had monitors for marching in the streets, and on the sidewalk.
Moore brought his own sign in support of the farmworkers, urging the "nationalization of farms," and identified his position as a socialist. However, he was requested by the march organizers to replace his particular sign for one of their own. The farmworkers mostly used a uniform message throughout the march, on signs and green tee-shirts, which read, "end the Poverty." The "P" in poverty was emphasized, enlarged, and a red tomato was inside the hole in the letter "P" which was written in the style of Publix's logo letters to highlight the connection (see attached photos).
Moore said he "reluctantly cooperated, but resented the strict controls." That, along with the march efficiency and apparent ability to provide costly resources, raised questions in Moore's mind as to who might be funding such a large operation. Moore said, his experience with national antiwar and local marches, is more grassroots oriented, less homogenized, and more spontaneous.
Moore joined the marchers Friday afternoon at a church rest stop, and continued on with the protesting farmworkers and their mostly student allies, in the neighborhoods of Tampa, ending up on Busch Blvd. one block past Busch Gardens. The demonstration continued for a mile and finally stopped for the day in front of a Publix supermarket, located at 5450 Busch Blvd., Temple Terrace, where over 200 protestors marched in single file on the sidewalk adjacent to Busch Blvd. approximately 250 feet from the front of the the supermarket store. (see one of video links below, plus still photos).
Publix had posted signs in the parking lot stating "No Event Parking," with Moore interpreting that as meaning "protester vehicles stay away!" Publix also stationed security personnel in the parking lot near the long line of demonstrators; even challenging an antiwar colleague, and photographer, Anita Stewart of the Green Party, who parked her car in the lot. Luckily, she had purchased an item in the store before joining the march and produced a receipt defending her right to park in the lot.
Captain Mike Pridemore, chief of Security for the Tampa Police Department, approached a small group of marchers, identified himself, and engaged them in a friendly manner after he observed the tension between the protesters and Publix personnel.
Moore wore three buttons, one urging "Socialized Health Care Now;" the second, "Jobs, Peace and Freedom," and a third, larger button, read:
"I am a PEACEFUL PROTESTOR. That means you don't have to hit me."
---END---
[Brian's participation in the march is recorded in attached still photos, taken by photographer Anita Stewart.
Video links show general start of march in downtown Tampa, plus single file march in front of Busch Blvd. Publix store on Friday, April 16, 2010]
http://www.BayNews9.com/VideoPlayer/?Protest_March_41610
[Baynews 9 TV, Tampa]
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/apr/15/publix-protest-immokalee-farmworkers-tonight-will-/ [Naplesnews.com]
*Translation provided by babelfish.altavista.com