In the spirit of marches led by the legendary farm worker leader Cesar Chavez, Minnesota migrant workers will start a 68-mile journey Friday, Oct. 1, from Owatonna to Minneapolis.
The march will be partly on foot and partly by bus, organizers said, with stops in Medford, Faribault, Montgomery, Northfield, Lakeville and Burnsville. It concludes Monday, Oct. 4, with a 4 p.m. rally at the Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis, coordinated with the Minnesota Freedom Ride.
Centro Campesino, an Owatonna-based organization, planned the march to urge greater voter registration and participation among immigrants and to support seasonal workers at Lakeside Foods who are seeking a union. The National Labor Relations Board will count ballots Oct. 12 to determine if the seasonal workers will be represented by an independent union, the United Workers of the North.
If a majority vote for the union, it would become the first union of migrant workers in the state. Chavez led the formation of the United Farm Workers of America, which has thousands of members in California, Washington, Texas and Florida but has made few inroads into the Midwest.
Here is the schedule for the march, as provided by Centro Campesino:
Friday, Oct. 1
7 a.m. Rally at Central Park in Owatonna
7:15 a.m. March through downtown Owatonna, past Lakeside Foods, to Medford and Faribault. Board bus to Montgomery, spending most of the day with immigrant families. Board bus to Northfield for overnight stay.
Saturday, Oct. 2
5:30 a.m. Prayer and depart for Lakeville/Burnsville area.
Sunday, Oct. 3
5:30 a.m. Department Lakeville/Burnsville area for St. Stephen?s Church in Minneapolis, interfaith service, reception and dinner.
Monday, Oct. 4
Rest and workshops.
2 p.m. March from Sacred Heart Church to downtown Minneapolis
4 p.m. Rally at the Government Plaza
Related article
Temporary workers seek union in Owatonna
For more information
More information about the Minnesota Freedom Ride can be found at www.mnfr.org
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In the spirit of marches led by the legendary farm worker leader Cesar Chavez, Minnesota migrant workers will start a 68-mile journey Friday, Oct. 1, from Owatonna to Minneapolis.
The march will be partly on foot and partly by bus, organizers said, with stops in Medford, Faribault, Montgomery, Northfield, Lakeville and Burnsville. It concludes Monday, Oct. 4, with a 4 p.m. rally at the Government Plaza in downtown Minneapolis, coordinated with the Minnesota Freedom Ride.
Centro Campesino, an Owatonna-based organization, planned the march to urge greater voter registration and participation among immigrants and to support seasonal workers at Lakeside Foods who are seeking a union. The National Labor Relations Board will count ballots Oct. 12 to determine if the seasonal workers will be represented by an independent union, the United Workers of the North.
If a majority vote for the union, it would become the first union of migrant workers in the state. Chavez led the formation of the United Farm Workers of America, which has thousands of members in California, Washington, Texas and Florida but has made few inroads into the Midwest.
Here is the schedule for the march, as provided by Centro Campesino:
Friday, Oct. 1
7 a.m. Rally at Central Park in Owatonna
7:15 a.m. March through downtown Owatonna, past Lakeside Foods, to Medford and Faribault. Board bus to Montgomery, spending most of the day with immigrant families. Board bus to Northfield for overnight stay.
Saturday, Oct. 2
5:30 a.m. Prayer and depart for Lakeville/Burnsville area.
Sunday, Oct. 3
5:30 a.m. Department Lakeville/Burnsville area for St. Stephen?s Church in Minneapolis, interfaith service, reception and dinner.
Monday, Oct. 4
Rest and workshops.
2 p.m. March from Sacred Heart Church to downtown Minneapolis
4 p.m. Rally at the Government Plaza
Related article
Temporary workers seek union in Owatonna
For more information
More information about the Minnesota Freedom Ride can be found at www.mnfr.org