Farmworker Rights Demo In Sacramento on Saturday

Saturday, Sept 18, 2004 Farm Worker Rights Demonstration at Second Annual
Grape Escape, Crocker Park, 216 O St, Sacramento. Let the wine-makers and
the public know that human rights do not end where the fields begin.
Demonstrators gather 12:30pm, Embassy Suites parking lot, 100 Capitol.
530-756-1482; redschwab69 [at] yahoo.com

Background:

Last week a small group of activists met with
former Supreme Court Justice Cruz Reyonoso to discuss
with him the treatment of farm workers in Yolo County.
We asked him if he would head up a commission that
would investigate the many allegations of mistreatment
and abuse. He agreed to chair the commission.

The road to the creation of this commission began with a few brave women who are former employees of
the RH Phillips winery. The stories they told were not
bad, they were horrific (physical and mental abuse,
water tainted with diesel, worked overtime with no
pay, unsanitary working conditions, the list is long).
Further informal investigations have revealed even
more stories from around the region; furthermore, the
worst of the stories are coming from grape-pickers.

Northern California wines are popular around the world, from chowder restaurants in Boston, to sushi
bars in Tokyo. The wine-makers bring economic
prosperity to the region; however, this prosperity is
built on the appalling abuse, harassment and
mistreatment of farm workers.

So that is a brief summary of why we are organizing
a demonstration at the "Second Annual Grape Escape" (
http://www.discovergold.org/grapeescape/ ) which is a
venue for local wine-makers and the restaurants that
support them. The main event will be held this
Saturday September 18th from 1pm-7pm in Crocker Park
(216 O st, next to the Crocker Art Museum).

We want to let the wine-makers and the public know that human rights do not end where the fields begin.
Every year we celebrate the name Cesar Chavez, with
schools and streets in his honor, yet his legacy, his
work, his dream is being forgotten in the name of
economic progress and prosperity. This is the start of
a new farm worker movement, a new civil rights
movement, I hope to see you there.

Please forward this on to anyone who might be
interested. Also for more information please contact
me by email or phone, (530) 756-1482