Temple Beth Sholom Hosts Anti-Slavery Benefit on Cinco De Mayo

The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is an internationally recognized farmworker organization. Members fight the human rights violations commonplace in the fields where many of them work. They represent tomato pickers in the fields of Immokalee, where a vast amount of America's tomatoes get picked. The CIW is raising money for the...

By Jacob Katel

April 28, 2009

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The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is an internationally recognized farmworker organization. Members fight the human rights violations commonplace in the fields where many of them work. They represent tomato pickers in the fields of Immokalee, where a vast amount of America's tomatoes get picked.

The CIW is raising money for the community center that will serve as headquarters for its operations. Miami Beach's Temple Beth Sholom, liberal org if ever there was one, is hosting an event to contribute.

The celebration, dubbed Food For Thought, will feature Mexican food, a photo exhibit, music, and education. Tickets are $18 in advance, $20 at the door or $10 for anyone under 18.

The CIW is currently involved in a campaign called "Dining With Dignity" that will force food service providers like Aramark, Compass (Chartwells), and Sodexo, who have contracts with college cafeterias across the country, to accept responsibility for mistreatment of the field workers who produce for them. According to the CIW "Florida tomato pickers earn about 45 cents for every 32-lb. bucket of tomatoes they harvest - a rate that has not changed significantly in 30 years."

Temple Beth Sholom is located at 4144 Chase Ave, Miami Beach. Buy your tickets online at http://www.tbsmb.org/food_for_thought/

Find out more about the CIW at their website www.ciw-online.org

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