Dear Allies of RMM,
It’s outrageous!
Agribusiness has launched an attack to undo what we’ve worked decades to achieve.
They have launched a new attack to silence the voices and rights of farmworkers.
As allies of RMM are well aware, farmworkers and their supporters waged a long campaign to gain equality under New York’s labor laws. It was a campaign that built upon the efforts of Cesar Chavez, calling for the just treatment of the men, women and children who feed us. In 2019, after decades of marches and vigils, endless lobbying and sacrifice, the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act finally passed, and farmworkers for the first time in New York history were given the right to bargain collectively, without fear of punishing reprisal. Their voices would finally be heard.
But New York agribusiness refuses to recognize these rights. On October 2, the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, along with A&J Kirby Farms, Porpiglia Farms, Crist Brothers Orchards, Cahoon Farms and Lynn-Ette & Sons, Inc., petitioned the United States District Court in the Western District of New York and asked the court to overturn this historic bill.
Their arguments include the unfathomable premise that giving farmworkers equal rights will deny the farmers their freedom of speech. This is outrageous. We have seen this strategy develop recently across the country as right-wing efforts seek to batter freedom and equality, often bringing in outside lawyers with cases that they ultimately hope to bring before the U.S. Supreme Court. We must continue to stand against such efforts!
What about the rights of the farmworkers and their freedom of speech?
It's not surprising – every time there is a step forward to combat racism, to be inclusive of those who are marginalized, it is expected that there will be pushback by those in power and those fearful of change.
We cannot, we must not let there be a return to the times of inequality and injustice! We have all worked too hard for too many years to allow this despicable maneuver to succeed. This is a fight for basic human dignity, integrity and autonomy. This is a fight for all of us!
Rural & Migrant Ministry will stand tall against these efforts – but this takes resources. That’s why we need your financial support! Our amazing law firm in Albany is already strategizing. We are mobilizing our people, and we are going out of our way to reaffirm to our farmworking brothers and sisters that we will not abandon them. We have been at this for 40 years — we are not about to give up. Please help us continue to stand against these nefarious efforts. Please stand with us. Please put your money where your passion is … Donate today! Help keep RMM in the struggle!
Richard Witt
Executive Director
If you have a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard) or a PayPal account, donating is easy. Click https://www.paypal.com/donate/... to donate!
Text "ruralmigrantministry" to (919) 626-3277 to get a link to donate.
Donate via Venmo: @RuralMigrantMinistry
Dear Allies of RMM,
It’s outrageous!
Agribusiness has launched an attack to undo what we’ve worked decades to achieve.
They have launched a new attack to silence the voices and rights of farmworkers.
As allies of RMM are well aware, farmworkers and their supporters waged a long campaign to gain equality under New York’s labor laws. It was a campaign that built upon the efforts of Cesar Chavez, calling for the just treatment of the men, women and children who feed us. In 2019, after decades of marches and vigils, endless lobbying and sacrifice, the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act finally passed, and farmworkers for the first time in New York history were given the right to bargain collectively, without fear of punishing reprisal. Their voices would finally be heard.
But New York agribusiness refuses to recognize these rights. On October 2, the New York State Vegetable Growers Association, along with A&J Kirby Farms, Porpiglia Farms, Crist Brothers Orchards, Cahoon Farms and Lynn-Ette & Sons, Inc., petitioned the United States District Court in the Western District of New York and asked the court to overturn this historic bill.
Their arguments include the unfathomable premise that giving farmworkers equal rights will deny the farmers their freedom of speech. This is outrageous. We have seen this strategy develop recently across the country as right-wing efforts seek to batter freedom and equality, often bringing in outside lawyers with cases that they ultimately hope to bring before the U.S. Supreme Court. We must continue to stand against such efforts!
What about the rights of the farmworkers and their freedom of speech?
It's not surprising – every time there is a step forward to combat racism, to be inclusive of those who are marginalized, it is expected that there will be pushback by those in power and those fearful of change.
We cannot, we must not let there be a return to the times of inequality and injustice! We have all worked too hard for too many years to allow this despicable maneuver to succeed. This is a fight for basic human dignity, integrity and autonomy. This is a fight for all of us!
Rural & Migrant Ministry will stand tall against these efforts – but this takes resources. That’s why we need your financial support! Our amazing law firm in Albany is already strategizing. We are mobilizing our people, and we are going out of our way to reaffirm to our farmworking brothers and sisters that we will not abandon them. We have been at this for 40 years — we are not about to give up. Please help us continue to stand against these nefarious efforts. Please stand with us. Please put your money where your passion is … Donate today! Help keep RMM in the struggle!
Richard Witt
Executive Director
If you have a major credit card (Visa, MasterCard) or a PayPal account, donating is easy. Click https://www.paypal.com/donate/... to donate!
Text "ruralmigrantministry" to (919) 626-3277 to get a link to donate.
Donate via Venmo: @RuralMigrantMinistry