SFA week of education and action

September 29-October 7 events in solidarity with CIW MiniTour

October 10, 2007 - This past week, events were held across the country timed with the CIW's MiniTour through the state of Florida. From the Twin Cities to Miami, from educational presentations to direct actions, here's a sampling of photos and action reports from the frontlines of the Campaign for Fair Food. Don't miss the upcoming Kingdoom Days of Action which promise to be even bigger and more powerful!

Twin Cities (Minnesota) report - We started out at 5pm at the Burger King closest to the University of Minnesota campus, which just happens to be owned by Duke and King, the largest Burger King franchisee in Minnesota. People slowly trickled in on their bikes from every direction... Many new people had heard about the action from our creative outreach, from flyering at last Friday's Critical Mass to chalking and attaching hundreds of flyers to bikes the day before the ride... We'd also made numerous Anti-BK flags to attach to our bikes for the ride.

Around 5:20 a delegation of 5 people marched inside the BK to deliver a letter to the manager and talk with employees and customers while the rest of the group chanted loudly outside.

The manager asked why we don't just take this to the franchise owners or to corporate headquarters - this local franchise has nothing to do with what is happening and the protest is hurting business at a key time. We told the manager that by using the Burger King brand - a brand that is created in part through the sweat of the workers who pick their tomatoes - they are directly connected to what is happening. He begrudgingly took the letter and said that he will speak with Duke and King representatives...

By 5:30pm we were around 40 people strong and we all hopped on our bikes to start the ride... we pulled up to the BK at 33rd and Nicollet, which just happens to be owned by the second largest Burger King franchise owner in Minnesota - Red King. There a loud group of folks awaited us with noisemakers, pots, pans, drums, a trumpet, and a megaphone. We took over the drive-thru for a bit...

Another delegation went inside... The manager quickly picked up the phone and called the franchise owner, and spoke for several minutes back and forth between a member of our delegation and someone from Red King in an absurd exchange. The police still had not shown up, so we decided to lead one more march through the drive-thru, pots, pans, drums and all. Shortly afterwards, three cop cars showed up flashing their lights and scared off any potential customers who might have gotten through the noise and protest... By 7pm we wrapped up the protest and each of us headed our own way, having sent a loud message to the two largest Burger King franchise owners in Minnesota - get corporate execs in Miami to shape up, or expect your restaurants to be shut down.

J. Macias, University of Miami student

Chicago report - At Northwestern University, students from the university's Peace Project group organized a "guerilla theater" action to raise awareness about sweatshops from the factories to the fields. We wore all black, and one person acted as the King standing above (on a table/bench) a group of workers, shouting commands at them ("work harder! work faster! produce more! I need your labor! no resting! no water! no breaks!"). Soon enough, the workers overthrew the King, and collectively took turns shouting other demands ("organize! build community! fair wages! stand up for your rights!") while information flyers were passed out. The action was done during the busiest times at a central location on campus as well as in the cafeteria of the student center. This will be followed up by info sessions, art making, and a big protest at our local BK around Halloween.