UCLA students are hunger striking as part of the national “Boot the Bell” campaign in support of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a Florida-based national farmworker movement that is leading a boycott of Taco Bell because of sweatshop-like conditions and human rights abuses in the fields of Florida. Students are saying that until Taco Bell can guarantee to its consumers that their supply chain is free of exploitation, Taco Bell does not deserve to do business on their campus.

Starting Wednesday, June 8th, UCLA students began a rotating fast with 45 students currently committed to fast and more continuing to sign up. They are sending a message to ASUCLA, the body of students and advisors that runs UCLA's restaurants, that Taco Bell cannot be allowed to remain on campus until there is real change in the subpoverty wages and inhumane working conditions in its supply chain! UCLA is the 6th university to be join the nationwide student hunger strikes in support of the CIW in the past 3 months, in addition to Norte Dame University, University of Florida, Grand Valley State University, Central Michigan University and Eckerd College.

In response to "Taco Time," while I think that it is wonderful that you have the luxury time to promote corporate intetest and "piss off the left," the people who produce the vegetables that make it possible for you to enjoy your burrito supreme are not so fortunate. Farmworkers wake up every morning at 3:30AM in order to begin working at 4:30 AM. Work days last between 10 and 14 hours, 6 to 7 days a week. This is all without benefits, sick leave, vacation time, or over time pay - and that is at best. There have been 5 prosectued cases of modern day slavery in Florida's fields since 1997. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, who are leading the boycott in order to demand fair wages and working conditions, have assisted in freeing over 1,000 workers from slavery in Florida. An average farmworker that is not enslaved makes $7500 a year - less than half of the national poverty level. So, in response "Taco Time," I hope you are truly enjoying all of the luxury you have, and perhaps will even consider using some of your privledge to assist the fellow human beings are suffering daily to make your tacos cheap and tasty. Do you think it's worth it? By the way, I am not pissed off, just slightly disgusted.

Whenever we neocons have no valid argument, we can always resort to posting inane pictures. It really helps demonstrate how simpleminded and childish we really are. Great job!