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MAY DAY 2001,...
... a day dedicated to the memory of workers fallen
in the fight for simple economic justice, was celebrated this year
in Florida with actions across the state in solidarity with farmworkers
leading that same fight today.
May Day this year in Florida was a reminder that no corporation
exists without the goodwill of its customers, and that goodwill
is not unconditional.
On May Day this year in Florida, consumers declared loud and
clear that Taco Bell's fate is in the consumers' hands,
and until Taco Bell acknowledges that the farmworkers' struggle
is Taco Bell's problem, business will be anything but ususal.
May Day this year in Florida took the Taco Bell boycott
to a new level.
Here below are pictures from a few of the actions and
some of the collected press:
PRESS ON MAY DAY PROTESTS
Tallahassee
Democrat Op/Ed: "Like Nike, Taco Bell must not support
suffering" (5/5/01)
Palm
Beach Post Editorial: "From Nike to Taco Bell" (5/8/01)
Gainesville
Sun report: "UF students join protest over tomato dispute"
(5/02/01)
Palm Beach
Post report: "Tomato pickers protest at Taco Bell"
(5/02/01)
Naples
Daily News report: "Protesters target Taco Bell over farming
conditions" (5/02/01)
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At West Palm Beach, according to the Palm Beach Post
coverage, "Members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers...
were joined by a rowdy bunch of activists: a 92-year old woman,
a person dressed as a tomato, a bearded man on stilts, an American
Indian Movement representative, and former state Representative
Barry Silver. One (activist) threw himself in front of a station
wagon, blocking the lot entrance and a lane of lunchtime traffic
for about 15 minutes before sheriff's deputies dragged him to the
side."
The protest was followed that evening by a May Day celebration
at a local church attended by CIW representatives, community activists,
students and neighborhood children.
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CIW member at
West Palm protest
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The stilts make it
to West Palm
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92 and still an activist - an inspiration to
all of the protesters
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According to one participant, the Gainesville action (entitled
"Attack of the Killer Tomatoes") was, "an
energetic protest of 50-100 people gathered at a local Taco Bell
restaurant to raise awareness about the great injustice between
the enormous wealth of those who own Taco Bell and the gross poverty
of those who pick the tomatoes for tacos, burritos, and chalupas.
The protest was part of the decentralized statewide actions against
the Taco Bell company. In Gainesville, about 30 protesters dressed
up as tomatoes, wearing red garbage bags over their torsos and green
pantyhose over their faces with leaves sticking out of their heads.
It was an incredible scene and the energy was very high with chants
in English and Spanish....
"Later that night, a May Day rally took place with almost
100 people listening to labor and comunity organizers..."
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The picket line forms. One sign reads: "Sweatshop
Labor: Not just a problem in Asia"
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Angry Mr. Tomato-tron chains himself to the drive-thru and
glares menacingly at the window... Taco Bell's tomatoes are
revolting!
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A Critical Mass goes for sodas at the Bell!
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You can read more about the Gainesville rally (and see more pictures)
at www.geocities.com/maydayflorida/
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Students and faculty from Florida Gulf Coast University joined
with Immokalee workers and community activists from Southwest Florida
in an evening rush hour protest at a Taco Bell on 41 in the heart
of Ft. Myers' business district. About 30 people picketed and marched
around the Taco Bell, accompanied by one well turned-out anti-exploitation-mobile.
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There was no Taco Bell back when this car was made, just
local burger joints and real taquerias! Ah, those were the
days...
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"A" for sentiment...
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It's unanimous... The old, the young, farmworkers, students,
and even dogs say "No queremos Taco Bell!"
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New College students joined farmworkers from Immokalee in an art-filled
protest at a Taco Bell near Sarasota. They even had their own anti-exploitation-mobile.
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