Farmworker Supporters to March Here Over Weekend

By Tom Palmer
THE LEDGER

LAKELAND | Thousands of farmworker supporters will be marching through Lakeland this weekend, temporarily blocking some roads, Police Chief Roger Boatner told the city commission Friday morning.

The protest, organized by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, is an attempt to force Publix Super Markets Inc. to pay a penny per pound more for tomatoes harvested in Florida and to not purchase tomatoes from companies that have been involved in worker abuse.

The coalition has successfully pushed for higher wages for tomato harvesters, cultivating labor agreements with major chains such as McDonald's, Subway and Whole Foods.

Publix officials have said the chain won't sign an agreement with the CIW to avoid becoming involved in what it views as a dispute between the CIW and tomato suppliers.

Boatner said the march, which began Friday morning in Tampa, will affect U.S. 92 and Airport Road today as the group marches toward a rally in front of Publix headquarters. About 500 marchers are expected for that event.

On Sunday afternoon a group of between 1,500 and 2,000 are expected to assemble near Southgate Shopping Center and will march up South Florida Avenue to Munn Park. South Florida Avenue will be closed to northbound traffic to accommodate the march, Boatner said.

The march route will affect the section from West Oak Drive to Walnut Street and to Munn Park via Kentucky Avenue.

Boatner said 12 to 15 officers have been assigned to deal with public safety for the march, explaining cross streets will be temporarily closed as the march passes.

He said march organizers will have marshals to ensure public safety and have worked well with his department on these issues.

He said the Munn Park rally will feature a prayer vigil and music, which will last about an hour. He said the music would have to conform with the city's noise ordinance.

Boatner said he has heard there may be counterdemonstrators. "We don't anticipate any problems," he said. "I think this will be a peaceful event."

This will be the second march the coalition will have staged in Lakeland. Last year, after failing to earn the support of Lakeland-based Publix, the group began a series of demonstrations at Publix stores and held a protest in Lakeland in December that drew 500 people.