About thirty people gathered in front of the Publix parking lot.  Conveniently for Publix, signs were posted on the building that proclaimed that no sort of political literature distribution, demonstration or action was permitted on their property.  There was also a police presence there to anticipate the protest and guard Publix shopers from viewing the action itself (not a surprising development).

Although those limitations on the protest itself were present, supporters of the farmworkers gathered beside the parking lot on the sidewalk in front of Publix with signs.  Chants from “Up Up with the fair food nation… down down with exploitation!” to “Justice for Immokalee!” were shouted as people walked and drove by.  There was much support from passer byers, including some state employees who drove by.

The bus that brought those on tour was parked in the parking lot while protesters were on top of the bus with signs and chants until the police came and told them that they had to leave the property.  The parking space was not being utilized for any other purpose so getting kicked off of their property was clearly a sign of Publix trying to do what it could to hinder the action.

After the protest had been going on, the CIW sent around a letter to sign to get Publix to come to the table and negotiate directly with the farmworkers.  A group of about 15 went to present the letter to the management to discover that a corporate representative from their headquarters in Lakeland was there (being escorted by the police, an interesting display of the relationship between capital and the state) who requested that fewer people come to the actual presentation of the letter.  The corporate representative heard the stories of the farmworkers, and Publix expressed their sympathy and claimed that they would “pass the letter along” to their higher ups.

After that the demonstration went on a little while longer before ending.  Awareness was raised and many people who would not know about the situation of the workers of Immokalee were told while at the same time Publix continues to remain in an uncomfortable position.

After the march, the CIW held an event on the FSU campus hosted by the Center for Participant Education (CPE).  The room was at capacity (thus over 90 people) for their talk.  The CIW and SFA representatives explained the situation in Immokalee, presented a short documentary on their successful Burger King campaign.  After the presentation, students asked questions regarding the situation in South West Florida and were interested in the campaign even more when they were informed that the SFA is currently engaging in a campaign against Aramark which is the food provider for the Florida State campus in their Dine with Dignity campaign.

The struggle that the SFA and CIW are engaged in is an important one, especially considering the current anti-immigrant sentiment of the right-wing right now.  They underline the problem that these issues that affect us all are class issues.  It must be understood that the plight of foreign workers who seek work in the United States is the same struggle as workers born in the United States. The drive for capital to constantly expand and seek profits by lowering wages is what leads to mass immigration and the effort to divide the working class against itself.  Fight the bosses, not eachother!

Links:

Tallahassee Democrat Article

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Thursday 5pm at Free Radicals Infoshop

Thanks to the PSL for allowing us to use their article!

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Link

The current debate on healthcare is an incredibly pressing and divisive issue facing our society today, and one of the greatest hurdles standing between this country and a more humane, compassionate, and efficient system. Our system, as it is, is structured to favor profits over human needs. The United States of America is the wealthiest country in the world and thus should provide such a basic essential need as healthcare to its citizens. That said, President Barack Obama’s proposal for a public option does not begin to address the severity of the plight of the American people and is wholly inadequate in truly providing the system that a free and just society demands. Only a fully socialized health system can do this.

We realize that this system will be difficult to fully attain in the short term. Despite its lacking qualities, the proposed public option for healthcare is a very much needed step in the right direction. We therefore urge Congressman Alan Boyd to support this initiative fully. Any amount of energy devoted to healthcare reform that disregards the public option will be wholly ineffective and will fail to enact real change and improvement in the conditions of life for Americans. Trying to simply reshape an utterly broken system will only feasibly yield results that either perpetuate the status quo or result in an unimaginably worse alternative.

A more sane healthcare system is an intrical part in the broader drive toward a better society for all people within it. The organization of society should be, first and foremost, designed to focus on the development and needs of human beings.

We sum this stance up with the phrase, “People over profits!”

Sincerely,

The Tallahassee Anti-Capitalist Left

tallyanticapitalists@gmail.com

tallyanticapitalists.wordpress.com

We will have a meeting this coming Wednesday (August 19th) 6pm at Free Radicals Infoshop (803 Railroad Ave)  to discuss our presence at the town hall meeting.