Activists Ask Publix for Abuse-Free Tomatoes on Facebook, Twitter

by Amanda Kloer · 2011-03-24 07:41:00 UTC
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This weekend, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers will end their two-week tour with the Modern-Day Slavery Museum in Nashville, Tennessee. There, they'll deliver the signatures of over 30,000 Change.org members to Publix leadership, as yet another demonstration of the popular support for the basic rights of farmworkers. But today, activists across the country are supporting their efforts by sending Publix messages on Facebook and Twitter, asking them to commit to slave-free tomatoes. Will you join them in using Facebook and Twitter to support an end to exploitation in Florida's tomato industry?

By taking just a couple minutes today, you can make a huge difference in the ongoing efforts to get Publix supermarkets to sign the Coalition of Immokalee Worker's (CIW) Campaign for Fair Food. The campaign helps prevent serious human rights abuses, like human trafficking, in Florida's tomato industry and gives workers a raise of one penny per pound of tomatoes they pick. But so far, Publix has called the routine abuse of the workers who pick the food they sell "none of our business" and have refused to sit down with CIW. Here's how you can participate:

Facebook: Publix has a couple of Facebook pages. You can visit their pages at Publix Corporate or  Publix Subs and post the following message, or one of your own:

I'm asking Publix to stop profiting from the exploitation of farmworkers in Florida and start selling abuse-free tomatoes today! http://chn.ge/hV40i3

Twitter: Here are some samples to use:

.@publixjobs be a "good place to work", work w/ @CIW & stop abuse of  farmworkers who pick the food you sell http://chn.ge/hV40i3

.@iheartpublix, I "heart" rights & respect for farmworkers. Why doesn't #Publix?  http://chn.ge/hV40i3

Once you've contacted Publix on Facebook and/or Twitter, be sure to share this campaign with your friends and family. And hopefully, when the CIW reaches Nashville on Saturday, Publix will be ready to sit down and work with them, thanks to your support.

Amanda Kloer is a Change.org Editor and has been a full-time abolitionist in several capacities for seven years. Follow her on Twitter @endhumantraffic

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