Wendy’s protesters march in front of the Reitz Union
“¡Wendy’s escucha, estamos en la lucha!”
A small group of students and farmworkers from the Coalition of Immokalee Workers, an internationally recognized human rights organization, took to the Reitz Union on Friday afternoon to protest and call for a boycott of the fast-food burger chain Wendy’s.
The group, led and organized by a student that refused to disclose his identity, marched in a circle in front of the newly added entrance to the Reitz. The chants of different phrases in English and Spanish included calls for higher wages and workers’ rights.
“We’re protesting for farmworkers,” the student leader said. “By the University of Florida having Wendy’s on campus, UF is practicing oppression. We have a right to tell them that we do not want them on campus. UF is practicing exploitation.”
Students Audrey Guerra and Giancarlo Tejera supported the protest in defense of the Hispanic community.
“Basically, we’re here because Wendy’s refused to sign the Coalition’s Fair Food Act,” Guerra said.
“Wendy’s is paying [the farmworkers] slave wages to pick tomatoes,” Tejera added. “All we are doing is asking for a raise.”
Although no other groups were present in defense of the fast-food chain, a student joyfully ate what seemed to be a Baconator in front of the protesters.
No word on whether Wendy’s will be forced off campus.