Dear friends,
Due to the global crisis of the Covid-19 virus, which is affecting communities in every corner of the world, we have made the difficult decision to postpone the Follow the Money March, originally planned to take place between March 10-12 in New York City. The march has been postponed indefinitely, to be rescheduled once the risk has passed.
We have made this decision following extensive internal deliberations, and taking into consideration the emergency declarations of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and several U.S. states. It is our responsibility to protect the health and safety of the Florida farmworkers and their families who have been planning and preparing to travel to New York for the action, as well as the health of the thousands of allies who were planning to come from all over the country to march with us. We take that responsibility extremely seriously, and so make this decision out of an excess of precaution and concern for the health of all involved.
We are deeply grateful for the many allies from New York and across the nation who have worked alongside us to advance this campaign. In the days ahead, we will announce the next steps in the Wendy’s Boycott – and we will count on your support and your energy to help us achieve long-overdue progress for farmworkers in Wendy’s supply chain. Our call to action to Wendy’s investors has not changed: Instead of turning their backs on exploitation, on gender-based violence, and on other human rights abuses suffered by farmworkers, Wendy’s investors have the opportunity to use their power to demand that Wendy’s bring its greenhouses into the Fair Food Program. Despite the current public health crisis, now is the time for those investors to act and help bring Wendy’s commitment to human rights into the 21st century.
Although we may not be marching in the streets of New York next week, our movement for dignity and respect will carry on, stronger than ever.
Coalition of Immokalee Workers
