FOX 4 WFTX - Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples News, WeatherModern slavery claims in SW Florida in new museum tour
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Activists who fight for the rights of migrant workers – are now armed with a new weapon.
The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is starting a state-wide tour - with a truck that provides a look at the history of the workers. What they call slave-like conditions...and what they want from a major Florida store.
FOX 4: "So, do we have slavery in the US right now in Immokalee?"
CHRIS McBRIDE: "Apparently we do. Apparently we do."
They say the problem is hardly anyone knows about it. Who would think farm workers so close to us are slaves?
That knowledge is power - and it's the reason why activists made this truck a mobile tribute to their plight. Let's start with the truck itself - it's not pretty what once happened. People chained up and left in the truck when they're not working. No bathrooms: only a bucket in the corner to go to the bathroom and food dropped in from the ceiling.
MILDRED HOWARTER: "It's hard to believe that it could happen in this country in this century."
It couldn't be harder to believe - the stories told in this truck.
People held against their will - not paid for their work. Workdays lasting 15 hours.
FRANCESCO BOTTA: "Just thought they worked and had poor working conditions, but I didn't know they used them as slaves and kept them captive. Horrible!"
While steps have been taken - the coalition says they're not enough. The food the workers pick makes its way to grocery stores - including Publix. The group behind the museum asking the company to make a commitment to not sell any produce coming from these situations. The catch - it could raise produce prices - but not by much.
MILDRED HOWARTER: "If you can make a small change that doesn't really hurt you at all - I'd be glad to pay 1 cent more."
FRANCESCO BOTTA: :The tomatoes that you eat, the fruit that they pick. It makes you just want to spit it right back at them!"
People in the community want action. But so far, nothing has been done to put more stringent agreements in place. Publix has said that they're not the ones behind this, and they have little power to prevent things like this from happening.
The coalition continues their tour Monday in Fort Myers.
The display will be at the Quality Life Center on M-L-K blvd, and they will finish up here in our area on Wednesday and Thursday with locations on Sanibel.
Eli Roberts
Fox 4 In Your Corner
