Kansas seminarian, Shannon Gorres, joins a Florida fast in the name of justice for U.S. farm workers.

For most of 2012, Shannon Gorres will eat as she usually does, but for six days this March it will be a different story.

“I will stuff down 2,000 calories a day this year as I run from meetings and events to family and friends,” said Gorres. “But for six days in March, I will slow down and fast to let surface the painful truths I normally stuff away – angry feelings and grief over the atrocities of modern-day slavery and my participation in an exploitative agricultural system.”

Gorres is joining the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) for a hunger strike in Lakeland, Fla., March 5-10. During the fast, participants will be ingesting nothing but water with lemon and molasses.

You can follow her experience here and on Twitter at #foodfastshannon.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Fast Ends with the Movement Fattened

If you have not already been to the CIW Fast website  I encourage you to do so now! It will capture in farmworkers' words and pictures the essence of the end of the fast. They have provided a window into the heart of our experience.

I will share a few last thoughts from my perspective on this story about co-creating change, because the food that sustains us still sustains the oppression of our brothers and sisters in Christ who pick it.

This week, we lost a little weight, while we gained a whole lot of movement. The entire week, Publix supermarket corporation refused to acknowledge farmworker dignity by refusing to sit down at a table and dialogue with us, and at the same time, the entire week more and more consumers and faith leaders gathered around the table for honest dialogue. By Saturday, there were almost a 1,000 people gathered, including Ethel Kennedy and famous Mexican singer José José, singing together songs of justice. Together, we acknowledged our need for a new food system. Together, we celebrated that a “new day had come” in which Fair Food Agreements had been signed by the restaurant industry and so far, partially implemented. Together, we carried hope that the supermarket industry would soon sign on. Publix hid, but their practices were unhidden. As Rev. Erwin Lopez of The Good Shepherd United Methodist Church of Lakeland reflected, we succeeded in creating a holy, moral tension between consumers acknowledging the truth and Publix refusing to heed to it.

The success of our efforts was reflected in a Florida TV News poll that revealed 62% of callers were in favor of Publix signing the Fair Food Agreement. Our consciousness-raising success showed in the numerous articles in media across the nation, including the Associated Press and the Huffington Post. We are certain that as consumer concern rises, Publix will have to come to the table.

We ended Saturday by breaking bread together and chanting, “We'll be back,” because while the fast has ended, the movement has fattened.

Hunger meter: 8. (We left with a strong hunger, a hunger for justice that permeates even the most hardened hearts. We left with a hunger for continued community, after living for a week as God's diverse but united family. We left with a hunger to share this story in our local communities across the nation, this atrocious story of human greed and human need almost reconciled by human awaking, almost freed. Together we hunger for more growth in this story of hope, of potential for change,and of personal and systemic transformation.)

Today we have two updates. First, Shannon's most recent post, followed by a statement from UCC Rev. Bernice Powell Jackson, Pastor at First United Church of Tampa.

A Celebration of Women & A Look at Publix's Response

Today is international women's day! We celebrated in many ways: women farmworkers in tears shared their stories about doing whatever they can to feed their families. Women talked about abuses in the fields. They also spoke of the incredible strength and endurance the female organizers of the Coalition have. The men prayed loudly for the women. And they reminded each other how shameful it was that there has to be a day for women to be recognized because they are not remembered and respected enough each and every day of the year.

It was lamented that the leaders of Publix supermarket have not recognized that the Fair Food agreement gives the right of women to not be sexually harassed in the fields.

I want to tell you how the Publix corporation has responded to the fast protest. First they called on their lawyers and the police to check over every law and pressure us to move. They attempted to remove our portapotties, they marked lines in the grass where we could and could not stand (and said we could not lay down to rest), and they wanted to argue that we could not have tents up for shade. The Fair Food lawyers proved that according to the local laws we did have a right to these things.

They have refused to talk with us. But the Coalition and supporting allies are not discouraged. We continually remember that God can change even the hardest hearts!!! God changed the hearts of many people at the fast, too, and we are encouraged as they share their stories about hearing of the Coalition's work and joining the cause. We also draw hope from the words of Gandhi, “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you. Then, you win.”

Hunger Meter: non-existant. I don't feel “hunger” in my stomach anymore. This is normal for many people on their 3^rd or 4^th day of a fast. We have to move more slowly to not get dizzzy, but we can still walk, and dance, and run pretty well. We are also drinking water with salt, lemon, and molasses. The molasses is great because it has iron and helps replace lost iron in women's menstruation. And there is always the opportunity to lay down as much as we need. Mostly, though, spirits and energy is steady!

Wednesday, March 8, 2012

A New Type of Church

Today is Purim, the Jewish holiday that celebrates the story of Esther by beginning with a fast. Rabbis from Miami and other Florida communities joined us to call on Publix for justice. Esther was a queen married to a man who wanted to persecute Jews. He didn't know she was a Jew. So she fasted to bring his awareness... The UCC pastor of Tampa Bernice  also joined us for the evening vigil, and her reflection is below.

I have experienced an amazing type of “church” here at the campsite of the fast outside of Publix' headquarters. With the diversity of people present, from children to folks in their 70's, there is a wide variety of talents and interests. Several different women lead stretches each day. The art table hosts immigrant men making bracelets and 3 year olds coloring. The DJ plays Black gospel, 60's folk, 90's pop, contemporary hip hop, and Latin. We pray in French Creole, Nahuatl, Spanish, and English. The media tent shades anywhere from 9-12 people at a time communicating their stories to the national and international audiences in their own ways, from their own perspectives. Try googling “Coalition of Immokalee Workers” right now and see what you find! With all our diversities (and no food to bring us together!) sometimes misunderstandings or offenses happen. But we are patient as we seek to understanding and navigate through them. We rejoice that in our diversity, are all one family living together this week, and year round really, for a shared cause of peace and justice.

Hunger meter: 4... then disappeared. Today I felt pretty weak, but my stomach didn't gurgle much. So my “hunger” was really a desire from my body to be nourished. I felt a little tingly in the extremities of my limbs, and my blood pressure dropped 20 points. So I relaxed more and kept drinking electrolytes. By the late afternoon I felt calm and stable.

Tuesday, March 7, 2012

Drawing not from Food, but from Religious Tradition

Throughout the day today, fasters and supporters have continued to draw on religious tradition for strength and hope in this struggle. Fr. Estefan from St. Leo University came to share with us the words of Amos 5:24, the words Martin Luther King also spoke during the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, “But let justice roll on like a river, and righteousness like a never-failing stream!”

Father Estefan explained that the prophet Amos was (like the prophet Isaiah) calling God's people to only offer worship and song that is grounded in justice for all people. He said that the fast we are participating in is part of God's desire for just community observance.

As we continue to ask Publix to come to the table and participate in the fair food agreement, there are participants drawing from the New Testament as well. The signs we hold today say, “Publix: love your neighbor” referring to the advice Jesus gave us through the parable of the Good Samaritan. There are so many ways to identify our neighbor and love them well, but without figuring out how, we will not inherit eternal life, says Jesus as written down for us by Saint Luke, chapter 10.

Lucas Benitez, member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, said, “Some Publix employees are inside right now giving thanks to Jesus for their lunch. But they are forgetting to thank the Jesuses who picked their food.” (In Spanish, many men are named Jesús). Other fasters who are of indigenous origen (USA and Mexico) have given thanks to Mother Earth for permission to be on this land as a community of fasters for justice, and have cleansed us with sage.

Media presence has been high, which means the Coalition has done their work well. The local newspaper, the Lakeland Ledger, covered the fast on the front page. Tampa Bay News channel 10 also ran a spot on the day's events. Democracy Now and other national independent media are also reporting.

You can see this media coverage here. 

Hunger Meter: 3 (the same as yesterday), but I'm a little more tired. Still, I had enough energy to dance to Olmeca's performance of live hip hop to encourage us, and to stand at the entrance to Publix headquarters and wave as workers drove in and out. While many of them kept ignoring us, some of them waved back!

Monday, March 6, 2012

The Fast Starts

At 8am rush hour is speedy and 60 fasters and 60 supporters show up outside of Publix grocery story headquarters. All dressed in blue “Fast for Fair Food” t-shirts, we set up tents on the lawn. Two major banners span the sidewalk: “We go hungry today so our children won’t have to tomorrow” and “Publix, do the right thing.” And singing with a group of Son Jarocha musicians, Marina belts out, “It’s a new day!” The agricultural industry has begun to come to the table and we pray that Publix will too.

The Fair Food program has insisted a Code of Conduct that guarantees 1 penny more per pound of tomatoes picked, shade on-site for workers to get out of the hot Florida sun, buckets that need to be filled just to the brim with fruit, and not over the brim, and a no-tolerance policy on sexual harassment. If this is found to be happening in the fields, then companies should not buy from them.

Ten corporations have agreed to this Code of Conduct, but Publix has negated, denying their responsibility to agree to fair food. By refusing to agree, they are sending pressure down the supply chain and threatening to undo some of the gains the Coalition has won. Because they buy in bulk and want the cheapest price, there is pressure on the growers (companies that sell the produce to the supermarket corporations) to get the cheapest labor possible. And if Publix refuses to agree to the Fair Food demands, they will continue to buy produce from growers in whose fields abuses are still happening.

Rev. Noelle D’amico with the Presbyterian Church USA shared that Christians fast during Lent because it is a time we reflect on our broken relationships. We make confessions. We attempt to reconcile. At the table today were two parts of the body of Christ: farmworkers and consumers. We are calling on another part of the body, Publix, to work together with us.

Just like we started the day at 8am with prayers and candle lighting, we ended the day at 8pm with prayers and a candle light vigil. Several local pastors join us, calling on Publix to repent. See pictures here.

My hunger meter today is: 3 (1 being full and 10 being... something excruciating, something, I've not experienced yet).

Occasionally I wonder what we're having for dinner, then I remember we are not dining. Occasionally I ask myself, “when is the next time to eat?” and my other half answers, “Saturday.”

There is a call and response chant the CIW uses, “Are you tired?” To which others respond, “What is that?” This week we are respond to, “Are you hungry?” with “What is that?” to remind ourselves that we are focused on a more important goal: the growing awareness of Publix and the public about fair food.

Sunday, March 5, 2012

We gather

Sunday evening we gather for the “’Last Supper.” It’s the last meal 60 of us will eat until Saturday evening. We pray and reflect on Isaiah 58:6: “Is this not the fast that I choose? To loosen the bonds of injustice…” With our fast, we are calling on Publix, one of the largest supermarket chains, and inviting them to participate in an act of justice. We're asking them to come to the table and participate in the Fair Food agreements. For three years the CIW has asked Publix, explained to Publix, and waited for Publix, but they have not responded. CIW member Gerardo Reyes-Chavez proclaimed that the CIW and allies are fasting as a last choice. The CIW attempts every angle to invite corporations to the table before proclaiming a boycott, because their intention is not to hurt the businesses but to convince them to do the right thing. So we fast in an attempt to strenghten an already incredibly strong point- we will sacrifice of our bodies to bear witness to those whose bodies are too often sacrificed in the fields. It is a sacrifice that God calls us to make when our societies are so unjust that our neighbors go hungry.

God, through Isaiah, does not ask us to simply offer food to the hungry, or to give charity to the poor, but to offer ourselves. The Hebrew word means to pour out and spend ourselves for those who hunger. In fasting, we are giving our bodies to the struggle for those who hunger.

Stephen Farris writes in his book, “Grace: A Preaching Commentary” that there is a balance of demand and promise in the Isaiah 58 text. God is speaking through the prophet Isaiah to demand a just fast, not a pious or meaningless fast. And with the demand for justice, we are offering grace. We will welcome Publix to the table and celebrate when they finally turn from their oppressive ways. We are inspired by and called to live by prophets, not profits. As allies we are blessed to be participating in the CIW's active process of living out the commands of God in their approach to righteousness,

Hunger meter: 1 (1 being full and 10 being... something excruciating, something, I've not experienced yet).

 Pre-Fast Update: March 4, 2012

Ready to Fast, Ready to be Fed

It's the night before I fly out to Florida to begin the 6 day fast. All week long people have been asking me the same questions because they are worried about my health. While I'm glad they understand the consequences of going without food, and thus the potential for the power of this action to open the eyes of Publix' corporate owners, I'm uncomfortable focusing on worry about me. My first response is:

I am more worried about our corporate agricultural system and the starvation it's causing for people world wide. I am more worried about the health of farmworkers exposed to pesticides year-round. I am more worried about just how important is it that farmworkers who put food on the tables across the nation are going without food. If you want to worry about me fasting for 6 days, will you worry about this, too?

But people persist, so I share...

“But you're too skinny already. Are you strong enough to last 6 days without food?”
I reply, “My body is strong because I practice yoga, and more importantly, my mind is strong because I have a consistent meditation practice. I've faced desire, cravings, and temptations many times in my life, and I know how to work my my whiny brain. But I've only fasted for 2 consecutive days before, so I don't actually know how it will go.”

“But only water?! Are you SURE you can survive for 6 days?”
6 days is actually not too long of a fast. Our bodies fast every night, which ends with break-fast. The body cleans out toxins during fasts, so it can be healthy to fast. People have done it for faith, justice, and health reasons throughout time. And Mom, don't worry, there'll be a physician checking in with us.

“How are you preparing?”
I reply, “Common advice is to cut out sugars, fried foods, and meat a couple days before the beginning of a fast. I generally avoid these and eat pretty healthy normally. I've been reading about fasting- about Cesar Chavez' frequent fasts and about God's impressions of fasting in Isaiah 58:6. And I'm praying for focus and endurance.”

Tonight, however, tonight I do wonder if I am really ready. I don't doubt that I am ready to feel weak at times and clear at other times. I don't doubt that I'm ready to confront hunger aches and crabbiness. I don't doubt that I'm ready to learn inner control and to learn from those around me. What I doubt is if I'm ready to be part of a substantially empowering movement that remodels my heart. Am I ready to participate in one of the most successful contemporary campaigns for justice in my nation? Am I ready to feel the power of God's mercy and love breaking forth in multiple moments, in dozens of ways, and in unexpected times? Am I ready to be fed such an awe-some experience?

En justicia y paz,
~Shannon