Riding for Farm & Food Chain Workers
PRESS NOTICE
Caravans of Solidarity & Dignity for Farmworkers and Food Chain Workers
Contacts: The Rev. Richard Witt, 845-706-0536, rcyrilwitt@aol.com
Gabriela Quintanilla, 845-428-0359, gabrielaq.rmm@gmail.com
On Sunday May 31st at 2pm, a series of 10+ cars in several Caravans will embark on routes in rural areas across New York State in order to directly and publicly thank farmworkers and food chain workers for their essential service to the people of New York during the Covid-19 Crisis.
Participating in the caravans will be faith, labor and student leaders alongside community members in the following regions: Long Island, Hudson Valley, Catskills, Finger Lakes, Central New York and Western New York.
The Caravans will also raise awareness regarding critical shortcomings in the State’s response to the well-being of these essential workers, and to the threat to our food chain and supply. Specific demands include:
- Health Care and Safety Protection for these essential workers
- Access to Childcare for all workers during the pandemic
- Financial Assistance for undocumented workers
For more information about Routes and Regional contacts: https://bit.ly/CelebrationCaravans
The Caravans are sponsored by: Rural & Migrant Ministry Inc., Mujeres Divinas, Mujeres de Esperanza, Alianza Agricola, Worker Center of Central New York, Worker Justice Center of New York, Center of Alliance, Solidarity and Accompaniment.
Co-Sponsored by: UFCW, RWDSU, UFCW Local 888, RWDSU Local 338, UFCW Local 1, Finger Lakes Rapid Response Network, Food Chain Workers Alliance and NYCLU Suffolk County.
“These essential workers are putting their lives and the lives of their families on the line, to feed and nourish all of us. We are dependent upon them. It is important to not only thank and affirm them, but ensure their well-being.” (The Rev. Richard Witt)
“The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed what food chain workers and their supporters have always known: this system says the workers are essential, but treats them as disposable. Some politicians would like us to return to ’normal’, but we know that what they consider normal is a nightmare of exploitation and abuse for vulnerable workers. We demand living wages, healthcare and childcare, safe working conditions, so that these essential workers will have the dignity and respect they deserve.” (Rev. Emily McNeill, Executive Director, Labor-Religion Coalition of New York State)
“We are Farmworkers who live in the Finger Lakes region. We work all year under all kinds of weather conditions and super high temperatures and below freezing during the winter months. We are also activists. We are part of the Mujeres Divinas group- an amazing group of strong women that offers a space to rural women who live in isolation due to many barriers, like being an immigrant, Latinas, and often time lacking speaking English, plus not knowing the culture etc. Mujeres Divinas is a bridge between different organizations and the community, we support different laws and pro-immigrant causes. We are Non-criminal essential workers.” (Hormis Bedolla, Mujeres Divinas, Sodus NY)