Caravan converges will struggles in Jackson

Freedom Caravan connects & continues struggles of the Civil Rights Movement

Taking on oppression in Jackson, from Jim Crow to Walmart

We woke up this morning with freedom on our minds….Received with warmth and songs by civil rights veteran Hollis Watkins of Southern Echo, the People’s Freedom Caravan departed Tuesday morning on a civil rights tour of the struggles in his home town of Jackson, MS. The Caravan witnessed the harsh oppression of Blacks here, passing by the State Fairgrounds where hundreds of civil rights protestors including children were locked up in animal stalls, churches where parishioners and the pastor beat African Americans for coming to worship, and the former home of assassinated civil rights leader, Medgar Evans.

Humbled and inspired by the courage and conviction of the freedom fighters of Mississippi, the Caravan descended on Walmart to unite with local organizers in their campaign for a workplace with dignity and justice. Chanting “What do we want? Living wage! When do we want it? Now!”, spirited demonstrators showed WalMart that the struggle continues in Mississippi today.

“ 25% of my people here in Mississippi are living in poverty and without health insurance,” explained State Representative Erik Fleming. Walmart, none of whose U.S. operations are unionized, denies most employees any health insurance or wages sufficient to sustain a family.

“Walmart is eating the flesh off the bones of the workers, stealing benefits from workers and families,” said State Representative Jim Evans who came to support the demonstrators. “To unionize Walmart, we need a spark. Today, you are that spark.”

“Those working inside this store right now are the ones making the buck, creating the enormous profit, for the Walmart Corporation,” Latoya Davis of Mississippi Workers Center for Human Rights told hundreds. “Meanwhile they are only given crumbs to live off of.”

“I can really relate to the Walmart workers struggles for a living wage because, as a server at Chili’s, I only earn $2.13 an hour,” said Dominic Reyes, 22, from San Antonio.

Chavel Lopez of the Southwest Workers Union, also in San Antonio, highlighted the link between WalMarts actions here and abroad. “WalMart succeeds in exploiting workers, paying poverty wages, all around the world. We need to repeal the free trade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA that allow this globalization to happen.”

Joined by yet another bus in Jackson, the Caravan also created a strong showing of Black-Brown unity, as immigrant, Latino, indigenous, and African American youth and organizers came together around common objectives. “It doesn’t matter if you came off the Mayflower or crossed the border last night. You still have human rights,” said Evans.