Farm Worker Solidarity March

As part of my time representing the Society of the Sacred Heart at the National Farm Workers Ministry Board meeting, I participated in a 12-mile solidarity march (to represent the 12 hour average work day for a farm worker).

Members of the National Farm Workers Ministry Board

There was an art build the day before to get all the materials ready

We started out with 150 people, which impressed me. Community to Community Development, the organizer of the march, has an impressive support base.

Cows marched with us for a while

We began at 5:30, so we got to see an incredible sunrise.

We marched along the Canadian border, which you would never know was a border!

Interestingly, our planned first break point, a casino, would not take us. Thankfully, our first break included food from the local Democrats.

We had a powerful protest at an ICE facility along the way. We traded out our farm worker signs out for immigration-focused signs.

We held a people's tribunal at Sarbanand Farms at which the farm was found guilty for the death of a farm worker, Honesto Silva, who was denied medical treatment last year, as well as for their use of pesticides and lack of respect for the dignity of their workers. Everyone present got to write a note to the farm. My note said, ""Remember that all of our humanity is connected. Act with 💜"

At the end we all got a button to commemorate our participation in the march and it was given to us by Ramon Torres, President of Familias Unidas por Justicia and 2018 James Beard Foundation Leadership Award Winner, who is one of my new heroes (see why here and here).

What a day. What a movement!