February 24, 2003

Day One of farmworkers hunger strike outside Taco Bell’s world headquarters, Irvine, CA

Historic fast: farmworkers, supporters tell Taco Bell: “WE’D RATHER GO HUNGRY THAN EAT SWEATSHOP TACOS”

Farmworkers arrive in Irvine; 100 fasters and supporters day and night outside Taco Bell world headquarters; Middle Tennessee State students remove Taco Bell restaurant from campus in solidarity with the hunger strike.

Irvine, CA -- After three long days crossing the nation by bus and vans, the caravan of farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and their Student/Farmworker Alliance (SFA) allies arrived in Los Angeles Sunday night to a warm welcome by the Dolores Mission and an ecumenical service by pastors of all faiths. Monday morning 100 fasters and supporters began one of the largest hunger strikes in US history, 24 hours a day outside the global headquarters of Taco Bell, the fast-food giant. In solidarity with the hunger strike, students at Middle Tennessee State University removed Taco Bell from
their campus, making it the 14th school nationally to "Boot the Bell."

In Irvine, the farmworkers were joined by family farmers from Kentucky and Wisconsin, United Students Against Sweatshops, students from Florida State University and UCLA, members of the UFCW, and concerned consumers from across the nation. Hunger strikers also participated in protests, rallies, and attended concerts in their honor at area schools, including University of Southern California and Cal State-LA. The Florida-based band Over the Counter Intelligence accompanying the fasters also joined the band Dead Prez at the House of Blues in LA.

The hunger strikers, who braved a rainy, chilly afternoon during their vigil, face a cold night. "You have to sacrifice if you hope to make any truly important
change," said faster Pedro Guartes. "These are our family's lives at stake."

On February 28th, the fifth day of fasting, artists, authors, and thousands more allies will come together for a massive rally outside Taco Bell’s headquarters in support of the fasters. And throughout the week, hundreds of solidarity fasts and
protests are taking place in communities across the country.

[The CIW, a Florida-based farmworker organization, called for a national boycott of Taco Bell in April 2001, demanding that the corporation take responsiblity
for the sweatshop-like working conditions that prevail in its suppliers’ fields.]

Contact: Coalition of Immokalee Workers, (239) 821-5481; (323) 387-0344, (239) 839-3970; (239) 503-0133, 239-634-4229

website: www.ciw-online.org