AMERICAN LEFT HISTORY

This space is dedicated to the proposition that we need to know the history of the struggles on the left and of earlier progressive movements here and world-wide. If we can learn from the mistakes made in the past (as well as what went right) we can move forward in the future to create a more just and equitable society. We will be reviewing books, CDs, and movies we believe everyone needs to read, hear and look at as well as making commentary from time to time. Greg Green, site manager

Tuesday, July 09, 2019

Part One: “Boot the Braids” Truth Tour makes a splash along the East Coast! Coalition of Immokalee Workers

Coalition of Immokalee Workers<workers@ciw-online.org>

11:36 AM

To alfredjohnson34@comcast.net

Part One: “Boot the Braids” Truth Tour makes a splash along the East Coast!

Hundreds of students, people of faith and community leaders in Charlotte, Chapel Hill, Philadelphia, New Brunswick and New York prepare to support student-led effort to boot Wendy’s off campuses this fall…

Last week, farmworker leaders of the CIW and student organizers with the Student/Farmworker Alliance wrapped up a two-week journey through six major cities along the East Coast, drawing to a close the first leg of the summer series of “Boot the Braids” Truth Tours. With a full schedule of meetings and presentations with students, religious leaders, community-based organizations and city council members, the team of Fair Food organizers engaged a newly-energized base of hundreds of consumer allies, ready to mobilize around the Wendy’s Boycott in communities from Charlotte, North Carolina, to New York City.

To give you a taste of the tour and the team’s time on the road, we are happy to share a report from the Fair Food organizers themselves. Enjoy, and check back soon for news from the second leg of this summer’s big, countrywide Boot the Braids Truth Tour:

On June 23, after making the long trek from the small town of Immokalee to one of North Carolina’s largest cities, Charlotte, the Truth Tour team was received by our friends at Holy Covenant United Church of Christ, who gave us a proper southern welcome to the Queen City (this on the very day CIW was honored with the “Movement Maker” Award at the United Church of Christ General Synod). After a day of productive meetings, including a sit-down with the University of North Carolina Charlotte’s dining administration to discuss Wendy’s refusal to protect farmworkers’ human rights through the Fair Food Program, we gathered with leaders of North Carolina AFL-CIO and Action NC, as well as committed community allies, for a screening of the James Beard Award-winning documentary “Food Chains”. Following the film, CIW’s Oscar Otzoy led a lively discussion centered around the human rights revolution transforming America’s fields under the protections of the Fair Food Program (below).

The Tour crew then headed two hours northeast to Chapel Hill, where we jumped right into back-to-back meetings with UNC Chapel Hill students, Triangle Area faith leaders, and local government leaders to ramp up support for the student-led campaign to kick Wendy’s off UNC’s campus. Still energized from the momentous 4 for Fair Food Tour stop in Chapel Hill this March, students and community members alike are making plans for an action-packed fall to demand UNC cut its contract with Wendy’s...

Check out the full report on this summer's first Boot the Braids Tour!

Coalition of Immokalee Workers

(239) 657 8311 | workers@ciw-online.org | www.ciw-online.org

A copy of the CIW's official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Florida Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352). Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. The website for the Florida Division of Consumer Services is https://www.freshfromflorida.com