“It is our hope that today's farmworker movement will serve as one of many points on the horizon that inspires young people to believe in the possibility of a better world – a world where we all have space to realize our dreams." - Gerardo Reyes Chávez, CIW
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Aramark action at the University of Florida October 24, 2009
On Saturday, October 24th, farmworkers and students gathered on the University of Florida campus with a clear message to Aramark: it's time to work with the CIW to end exploitation in the fields!
The action began, appropriately, at UF's Plaza of the Americas...
...making its way across campus to the Reitz Student Union...
...where participants gathered for a rally and some inspiring words from members of the CIW, SFA...
...and UF student Dave Schneider, who explained that "this is a struggle that involves all of us" as he reminded students of the impending vote on a resolution supporting the CIW in the UF Student Senate.
The crowd then made its way silently into the Union and headed straight to the administrative offices--home to UF's local Aramark representatives.
The offices were closed for the weekend, but undeterred, dozens of students and workers signed a petition demanding action from Aramark...
...and slipped it under the door with two letters (one in English, one in Spanish) for administrators to find when they came into the office on Monday morning.
The group then headed outside--this time making their call for justice for farmworkers known loud and clear to everyone in the Union...
...and after a brief photo op outside...
...decided to visit just one more spot on campus: the Gator Corner Dining Center.
Upon arrival, only a few were actually able to enter the facility...
...the rest spilling outside, their calls for justice carrying both inside and throughout the campus...
...and their message to Aramark conveyed loud and clear.
