MODERN DAY SLAVERY MUSEUM

The "Modern Day Slavery Museum" rolled out across the state of Florida with stops throughout the entire state. The box truck depicts how in 2010 modern day slavery is still enforced in many farming communities throughout the State of Florida.

"The white truck's cargo space is dark, cluttered and hot - walls lined with stained plywood, cardboard boxes stacked head-high, a clanking steel roll-down door that locks from outside.

This is what home looked like for some of the Navarrete family's slaves.

The replica of the box truck in which the Navarette family of Florida kept their slaves locked up before they went to federal prison in 2008 for keeping 12 slaves they forced to pick tomatoes on some of Florida's biggest farms. After promising the Mexican and Guatemalan men work, Navarrete family members confiscated their IDs, tied, chained and beat them if they tried to leave. Although they advanced their victims "credit" for necessities, they didn't pay them for their work, all of which added up to slavery "plain and simple," according Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney Doug Molloy.

And here we thought SLAVERY ENDED IN 1865 but yet it still happens in modern day America.

The CIW along with many of their allies will be making stops throught the state of Florida and invite everyone to stop by, listen and learn how to stop this from happening....

http://ciw-online.org/

FARMWORKER FREEDOM MARCH

Chicago area allies & others interested in becoming involved with the Farmworker Freedom March: We have allies from NYC coming into Chicago to join the caravan from IL to FL to stand & march in solidarity with the CIW - the narch will begin in Tampa with stops along the way until we reach Lakeland, FL home of Publix...the dates are April 16 - 18, 2010.

This is a major event therefore the more allies we have attending the better!!! Publix will work with the CIW, people power with the truth always prevails!


www.ciw-online.org

PUBLIX ACTION FARMWORKER FREEDOM MARCH

Body: Save the Date - "Farmworker Freedom March," Tampa to Lakeland, Florida, April 16-18, 2010!

....and more from our friends down south.....

The CIW has announced a 3-day "Farmworker Freedom March" from Tampa to Publix headquarters in Lakeland, Florida, this April 16-18, 2010.

Start making plans today to be among the multitude of CIW allies and supporters from every corner of the state and the country who will march to demand, in the words of the CIW, "Freedom from forced labor; Freedom from abuse; Freedom from poverty and degradation."

Visit the CIW site (http://ciw-online.org) today for all the background and details, and contact us for more info on the march and the mobile museum.

PUBLIX ACTION

Chicago allies...we are planning a strategy meeting for the purpose of going to Florida to help out the CIW folks..thinking of in 2 weeks we should meet somewhere easily arrived at by everyone concerned...maybe in the Pilsen Area? Ideas let me know, either here or at my email address: amronh@yahoo.com

...we need to attend this action.....show solidarity as always but the larger the group the better to show Publix that the CIW is serious .... Peace Out Norma

What's Ahead in 2010

According to President Obama January is "National Slavery & Human Trafficking Prevention Month"

The proclamation basically states that the United States was created with everyone born as equal, this being an unaleniable right to each and everyone human being the right to freedom! Through the dark years into the light years when President Lincoln outlawed slavery ie human chattel, a war came about but in the end slavery was abolished...or so we thought. Today there is still 'modern day slavery" although hidden for the most part but yet it exists and a committment needs to be made to place a stop on on modern day slavery and human trafficking not only in the United States but worldwide.

... Fighting modern slavery and human trafficking is a shared responsibility. This month, President Obama says he urges all Americans to educate themselves about all forms of modern slavery and the signs and consequences of human trafficking.
Additionally that we can and must end this ongoing criminal civil rights violation."

This is only the start of the month and it looks good so far...the CIW along with all allies countrywide, but especially in the Chicago Land area will be working together help in this effort.

For more exciting news and a full article please visit: www.ciw-online.org

Aramark

Yes I know it's that time of year - holiday time is here again, but lets not forget that the Campaign for Fair Food continues to toil year round!

Students and allies across the country continue to protest the fact that at numerous campus' Aramark refuses to discuss the topic of most interest ... where does the food which is consumed at these dining facilites really come from? Specifically the tomatoes? Various studies have shown that these tomatoes come from the Florida fields. Not only the fact that the tomatoes come from these fields but additionally the high price of dining at a campus facility make it a shame that the people who harvest these tomatoes earn so little on a daily basis, and yet corporations such as Aramark are making a profit. Yes - a profit from the back breaking labor of harvesting these crops to bring them to the table. These workers must often work 10 - 14 hours a days in order to earn an approximate wage of $50.00.

Everyone out there who attends a collge, university and/or all allies please do not forget to keep toiling after the holidays to bring the Campaign for Fair Food to the forefront of all Aramark offices on each and every campus nationwide...the CIW/SFA needs all our support year round!

www.ciw-0nline.org or www.sfalliance.org

FRIENDS

Over this past weekend we learned that two of our own were engaged! Melody Gonzales & Luis Rivera.

Melody has worked & lived in Immokalee working closely with the CIW - translating at all the functions and/or rallies. She has been affiliated with the struggle for many years. Melody is now back in California and working with Fair Food Across Borders.

Hector lives in Chicago, he is a strong supporter and ally of the CIW, he along with other friends have formed the the musical group BUYA, which we hope will play at their upcoming nuptials!

Chicago Communities for Fair Food congratulate the couple and know that they will continue with the struggle because after all "La Lucha Sigue" .... Publix & Aramark people power will prevail...sooner or later !!!

www.ciw-online.org