CIW TRUTH TOUR OF SOUTHEAST BEGINS IN GAINESVILLE SEPTEMBER 22

                                        Candy Herrera and Marihelen Wheeler lead the march down NW 34th Street

We began with a rally at Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Rev. Larry Green is pastor.  Westminster youth led by Rev. Paige Porter-Buhl and United Church of Gainesville (UCC) led by Rev. Andy Bachmann made signs and banners. 

 We heard speakers challenge us to hear the Florida farm workers' cry for justice.

                                              Lupe Gonzalo and Oscar Otzoy from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers

                                                            Rev. Eve MacMaster of Emmanuel Mennonite Church 

                                                               Dr. Sam Trickey of National Farm Worker Ministry

                                       Father Les Singleton of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator, Micanopy, FL

A heavy rain doesn't stop youth

or age

from demonstrating for fair food at Publix

Farmworker "Say Yes to Immigration Reform" Caravan Here September 3

A caravan of farm workers is making its way around Florida to meet with Members of Congress and encourage them to support comprehensive immigration reform.  The caravan, sponsored by the Florida Farmworker Association of Apopka, will visit Gainesville Tuesday morning September 3.
The group will visit Congressman Ted Yoho's office at 5000 NW 27th Court at 9 a.m. and then hold a press conference at 11 a.m. at the Mennonite Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th Avenue in Gainesville.  They plan to meet with UF students at noon at La Casita, 1503 West University Avenue, and then proceed to the Plaza of the Americas on the UF campus for lunch and conversation with students and faculty.

September Week of Action

The annual CIW Week of Action in Gainesville will be September 16-22, 2013 and will feature the launch Sunday afternoon September 22 of a regional campaign by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers in the southeastern states.  The Modern-Day Slavery Museum will be on the UF campus Wednesday September 18 and at Trinity United Methodist Church Thursday September 19 with presentations by Immokalee farm workers at each location.  The PBS documentary "Rape in the Fields" will be shown Wednesday evening September 18.  More details will be available later.

Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice is currently meeting at 6 p.m. on the second Monday of each month at the Mennonite Meeting House, 1236 NW 18th Avenue, Gainesville (opposite Gainesville High School, between PNC and Wells Fargo banks).  Our next scheduled meetings will be August 19 and September 9.  You are welcome to join us.

Activities planned for this coming Fall and Winter include a visitation program for undocumented immigrants in the Baker detention center, "Breaking Bread, Building Bridges" suppers to help local congregations understand immigration issues, and an immersion visit to the Immokalee tomato fields during the winter harvest.  We are working closely with Alachua County Coalition Against Human Trafficking on farm labor issues and with Comprehensive Immigration Reform Now! to encourage Congress to fix the broken immigration system.

Press Conference at University Lutheran Church February 22, 2013

Gainesville religious leaders, University of Florida faculty and students gathered at University Lutheran Church on Friday afternoon February 22nd to release a new interfaith clergy letter to Publix and announce the upcoming March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food.  We also introduced a group of thirteen UF students leaving to spend Spring Break in Homestead and learn about migrant worker rights.

Rabbi David Kaiman of Congregation B'nai Israel, Rev. Larry Green of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Father Les Singleton of the Episcopal Church of the Mediator in Micanopy were among the speakers.

Dr. Samuel Trickey of National Farm Worker Ministry put the struggle for justice for farm workers in the context of more than forty years of effort by so many.  Professor Paul Ortiz read the latest interfaith clergy letter to Publix.

Our friends from Immokalee Claire Comiskey and Oscar Otzoy told of the real gains for workers in the Fair Food Agreement and explained why we must bring Publix to the table.

Marlee Henninge introduced the group of UF students who will spend their Spring Break in Homestead with the Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations.

Meet the CIW! February 27th @ 3PM

Where:University Lutheran Church, 1824 West University Avenue, Gainesville FL

When: 3pm!

Gainesville Interfaith Alliance for Immigrant Justice welcomes a delegation from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers who are here to invite Gainesville participation in the March for Rights and Fair Food March 3-17, especially on Sunday afternoon March 17 in Lakeland.

CIW Solidarity Action Outside Wendy's - 14 Febraury 2013

 

We're kicking off the season with a big Valentine’s Day proposal (and Valentine's Day themed action!) to Wendy’s to sign a Fair Food Agreement with the CIW. Throughout the week of Valentine’s Day, allies of farmworkers all over the country will call on Wendy’s to partner with the CIW.

On Thursday, February 14 @5pm, we will gather outside the Wendy’s on 1711 North Main Street in Gainesville to call on Wendy’s to join CIW's Fair Food Program.

By joining the program, Wendy's would commit to buying Florida tomatoes only from growers that respect farmworkers' basic rights. 

Join us to send a strong message to the company here in Gainesville!

Facebook event link HERE

IAIJ Unveils Our First Newsletter!

Download/view it here - IAIJ Winter 2013

Special thanks to Liz Getman for getting the word out about upcoming events and reporting on the latest!

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Also, one of our members shares her immigration story in the Gainesville Sun. Check it out here.