Farm Workers behind the Thanksgiving Meal to Hold Holiday Feast in front of White House
Farm & Food Processing Workers to Deliver Letters Calling for Executive Action and Inviting the President to join them at the Thanksgiving Table
On Wednesday, November 19th at 12pm ET—and on the cusp of one of America’s most celebrated holidays–immigrant farm, food and commercial workers from across the country will gather in Lafayette Square Park to remind Americans of the people behind the Thanksgiving meal and call on the President of the United States to deliver the most inclusive changes to immigration policy possible through executive action. The event will shine a spotlight on members of United Farm Workers and United Food and Commercial Workers who will present a representative sampling of the Thanksgiving foods harvested and processed by immigrant workers.
In addition, farm workers will also deliver over 100 letters addressed to the President, explaining why administrative relief is so important to their communities. Many of the letters include invitations to the President to share a Thanksgiving meal with farm workers in their homes.
WHAT: Giving Thanks to America’s Thanksgiving Workers
WHEN: Wednesday, November 19th at 12pm ET
SPEAKERS:
Arturo Rodriguez, President, United Farm Workers (UFW)
Esther Lopez, International Vice President and Director of Civil Rights and Community Action Department, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union
Juan Pacheco, turkey processer at Empire Kosher & member of UFCW Local 1776, Mifflintown, PA (Turkey)
Maria Pacheco, turkey processer at Empire Kosher & member of UFCW Local 1776, Mifflintown, PA (Turkey)
Maria Arteaga, farm worker Parma, ID (Potatoes)
Areli Arteaga, US citizen daughter of Maria Arteaga, Parma, ID (Corn)
Inocencio Bernal Pedroza, farm worker, Madera, CA (Celery)
Other participants include:
Maria G. Lozano Ramirez, farm worker, Benson City, WA (Wine Grapes)
Alberto Bermejo, farm worker, Sanger, CA (Peaches)
Maria Martha Acevedo Cardenas, farm worker, Sunnyside, WA (Pumpkin)
Eustalia (Toy) A. Acevedo, farm worker and US citizen daughter of Maria Acevedo, Seattle, WA (Apples)
WHERE: Lafayette Square Park (H St. between 15th and 17th Streets; Southeast Quadrant)
Livestream: http://www.americasvoice.org/livestream
Follow on twitter using the hashtag #ThanksgivingWorkers.
Visuals: Mock Thanksgiving Table; Farm Worker Letters to Obama