Monday, August 27, 2007
They marched through Lawrence with tomato signs that said, “Justice,” and signs that resembled the Burger King trademark but said “Exploitation King.” One protestor even dressed as the Burger King himself, except his costume’s face showed an angry smile. Lawrence Fair Food, Kansas Mutual Aid, and the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice organized Saturday’s event, the March for Fair Food, to benefit the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in Florida.
The march started at 9:30 a.m. at the Burger King located at 1100 N. Third St. Spectators honked and held up peace signs to show support for the group as it marched to the Burger Kings on Sixth Street and 23rd Street. The group delivered a letter that explained the reason for the protest, to the manager of each restaurant. The letter demanded that Burger King increase the wages of workers by one cent per pound of tomatoes.
One of the protesters participating in Saturday's march holds up a sign demanding a one-cent wage increase for farm workers in Florida who work for Burger King.
The marchers chanted, “What do we want? Fair Food! When do we want it? Now!” the group consisted of a combination of students and Lawrence community members. Each protestor had his or her own reason for why the march was significant.
Rachel Raya, Hutchinson sophomore, said she participated in the march as community outreach for her sorority Sigma Lambda Gamma, the largest Latina-based sorority in the U.S.
“It’s important to us because of the significance to our culture,” Raya said. “We’ve done similar things for community awareness and really enjoyed them.”
To other protestors, the march was about showing support for the farm workers in Florida.
“We’re expected to be mindless consumers,” Cori Fischer-Hoffman, Philadelphia graduate student, said. “We should ask, ‘Where does this food come from?’”
Gerardo Reyes, a member of the CIW, accompanied the group on the march. Reyes’ family still lives in Mexico, but he said his co-workers and friends in Florida supported him on his trip from Florida to Kansas. With the help of a translator, Reyes said he wanted fair wages for the workers. He said the wages had been frozen at the same rate since 1978. He also said the workers had no benefits, contract or protection.
“Justice must be an ingredient for a company that profits off of the misery of its workers,” Reyes said.
As reported in Friday’s The University Daily Kansan, Keva Silversmith, Burger King’s vice president of corporation communication, said the restaurants had negotiated with the CIW for the past few years. Silversmith said that the coalition had requested Burger King write a check to the organization, but that the company had declined.
A manager who worked at all three Lawrence Burger Kings would not give his name, or comment on the march. When protestors handed him the letter, he thanked them and requested that they didn’t come into the restaurants.
The group then requested assistance from the Lawrence Police Department. Police officers rode bicycles and walked alongside the group, and drove to the Burger King locations. Sgt. Michael Monroe said the police had to respect both the marchers and the restaurants. He said the march had been peaceful at the Sixth Street location.
“They made the agreement to stay on the city sidewalks while they march,” Monroe said. “When they deliver the letter we think it’s safer to do it outside the restaurant.”
The march ended at the 23rd Street Burger King, where protestors sat on the restaurant’s lawn and ate free hamburgers and veggie burgers provided by the Ecumenical Christian Ministries.
Reverend Thad Holcombe of Ecumenical Christian Ministries, said that he was pleased with the turnout and with the work done to bring about cooperation between Burger King and farm workers.
“It is important for one group not to be in a position of power over another,” Holcombe said. “We must sit at the same table.”
— Edited by Dianne Smith
Activists rally at Burger King locations
The Coalition of Immokale Workers represent the Latino, Haitian and Mayan immigrants ...
Food festival raises money for freedom march
KU student group organizes events to fight for rights of low-income farm ...
Students unite with low-wage workers
KU students and tomato harvesters in Immokalee, Fla., are fighting for fair ...
Students work with and for migrant workers
The Lawrence Fair Food prepares for this week’s events in improving conditions ...
Letter to the Editor: Workers need support
‘Kudos’ sent to Lawrence residents who support the farm workers' struggle against ...
Over 1 Billion Angered
Local interest groups protested McDonald’s for what they see as unfair treatment ...
A new meat market
Animals could become obsolete in meat production.
Two arrested in robbery
The suspects allegedly participated in a robbery at a Burger King on ...
Popular burger joint moving to Mass Street
The Burger Stand is leaving Dempsey’s for The Casbah’s former location.
Local Burger featured on Sundance
Doctors in the a new spin-off documentary called "Localize Me," will examine ...
Earth, AIDS supporters join the pride
Student farm project comes to a standstill
Despite the semester’s close and a lack of money, the farm’s leaders ...
Former player finds many successes despite rampant ...
Lawrence eatery makes magazine’s list
Three-year-old Local Burger caught the attention of national magazine, Bon Appetit, for ...
Restaurants spring up over summer
New restaurants for incoming freshmen, absent summer students poped up over summer ...
Protestor still stands for beliefs
After being expelled from the University of Kansas, Caroljean Brune now works ...
Luminary walk honors civil rights activist
KU alumni find watch sites far away
Bars from Miami to New York find themselves host to Jayhawk sports ...
Farm still facing possible foreclosure
Iwig Family Dairy awaits government loan guarantee before it can sell shares ...
Students celebrate Equal Pay Day
KU Young Democrats will be tabling in front of Watson library today ...
Most E-Mailed: Aug. 28, 2007
Want to know what people are talking about? Here’s a list of ...
Lawrence, Japan exchange ideas on organic business
Japanese organic food professionals are visiting Lawrence to explore local organic markets.
Student group gives back to local farms
A campus group spends their weekends helping local farmers.
New burrito restaurant opens
Big 12 Burrito, located behind The Crossing, charges $4.99 for its burrito.
Cosby: Peaceful protestors fly flags without poles
Peaceful protestors are protected in America, even when out free speech rights ...
Jefferson’s still closed, Vermont Street BBQ looking ...
Jefferson’s restaurant remains closed and could have its assets sold at auction ...
Local Burger and Co-op collect rain
Ad Astra Student Co-op helps restaurant install a rain barrel.
New coalition looks to reduce campus fees
The new group, Students of Liberty, wants to address careless spending on ...
Work limits GTA union’s political involvement
New legislation targets labor unions in Kansas and around the country.
Restaurant review: Local Burger
A review of Lawrence establishment Local Burger.
KU students get hands dirty
Student farm teaches about agriculture, while also offering real products.
Malicious Intimacy
Four students' experiences with domestic violence.
Congressman leaves impression on students
Students who listened to Congressman John Lewis speak at the Lied Center ...
Editorial: Minimum wage should rise with cost ...
It's unreasonable for salaries to not keep up with inflation.
Activists protest downtown
Protesters came together to hold a vigil against the war in Iraq ...
Students support climate action
Lawrence participates in a national movement to educate citizens and encourage change ...
Restaurant offers organic options
Local Burger brings veggie burgers to game
Students will now be able to purchase a healthier option at KU ...
Group works for more than just peanuts
The federal minimum wage is $5.85 an hour, and ‘Current-See’ is looking ...
Tomato shortage in the U.S. has started ...
A staple complement to a good sandwich and burger has became less ...
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
KUnited presidential candidate Libby Johnson and vice presidential ...
1 comment
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID