Taco Bell Truth Tour 2005
Presbyterian Leaders Make Public Statements
- Moderator Rick Ufford Chase calls on Yum! Brands to "Act Now for Fair Food" [read now]
- Clifton Kirkpatrick, Stated Clerk, urges Presbyterians to participate in the CIW's Taco Bell Truth Tour [read now]
- Stated Clerk urges Presbyterians to fast and pray on Fridays during Lent for a just resolution of the Taco Bell boycott. [read now]
Presbyterian News Service coverage of the Taco Bell Truth Tour
- Justice is Yum!my: Farmworkers, supporters revel in long-awaited boycott victory [read now]
- Boycott accomplishes its purpose: Fast-food giant, impoverished tomato pickers reach historic agreement [read now]
- Taco Bell 'Truth Tour' to demand 'fair food' [read now]
Highlights of Presbyterian Participation in the Taco Bell Truth Tour
In cities throughout the Taco Bell Truth Tour, Presbyterians are opening their churches, providing food, housing and offering educational forums on the boycott in the community. See how your sisters and brothers are sharing Christ's love, hospitality and justice. See www.ciw-online.org for updates.
Atlanta Presbyterians Support the CIW's Truth Tour
By Jeannie Hunter, Presbyterian seminarian at Candler School of Theology
The Coalition's bus pulled up to First Iconium Baptist Church at about 8 p.m. on Monday, February 28. They had made good time-they were there an hour early! Students from the Social Concerns Network at the Candler School of Theology, Emory University was already working in the kitchen to prepare dinner. They sat down together to eat and share stories, and the Coalition met while the students cleaned up dinner.
Tuesday morning, students from Columbia Theological Seminary's Claiming Justice group helped prepare breakfast (sponsored by Druid Hills Presbyterian Church and North Decatur Presbyterian Church), and Central Presbyterian Church dropped off bagged lunches. The Coalition got back on the bus at about 8:30 and went to Georgia State University. They taught in three classes at GSU, presenting their case and answering students' questions about the conditions in the fields and the strategies of the boycott. As the coalition members left their classes, they had the opportunity to see snow, a rare weather occurrence in Atlanta and a first-time experience for many of the workers! They then toured the Martin Luther King, Jr. Historical Center, learning about a role model in social justice before going back to Georgia State for a rally in the student center. Workers and supporters went to the nearby Taco Bell, where they marched out front, beating tomato buckets, holding signs, singing, and handing out information about the boycott. Representatives from Atlanta worker justice organizations spoke briefly, and with the Coalition's own Lucas Benitez closing remarks the Coalition got back on the bus to continue their Tour.
Thanks to all who helped make this a memorable stop and a vibrant witness for fair food! (For photos visit www.ciw-online.org)
Louisville Presbyterians Welcome Workers
Late on Saturday night (March 6) and in the wee hours of Sunday morning two buses of workers pulled into Louisville, the final stop of the Taco Bell Truth Tour. On Sunday morning members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers visited James Lees Presbyterian Church, Central Presbyterian Church, and Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church for worship and educational forums. The congregations had read about talks in the Louisville Courier Journal that morning between Yum! Brands and CIW and are eagerly anticipating the March 12th national gathering for Fair Food and Justice.
A lovely lunch was hosted at James Lees for workers and supporters. In the evening workers and supporters gathered for a soup supper and service of worship and welcome at Crescent Hill Presbyterian Church. Members of the broader Louisville community stood and welcomed the CIW, expressing support for the ongoing struggle for fair food and celebrating their safe arrival. Folk singer John Gage offered music that connected the current struggle for justice in the fields with earlier struggles for dignity and human rights. Many thanks to Pastor Jane Larsen Wigger, Melissa DeRosia seminarian at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Soila Matute-Carcamo, Missionary-in-Residence from Honduras and Gary Cook Youth Leader who planned the worship, Ada for her prayers and presentation, the Crescent Hill youth groups and all of the volunteers who cooked and served dinners! (For photos visit www.ciw-online.org)
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