Return to Human Rights Tour kicks off the Columbus stop with a moving vigil, as OSU student fast enters Day Six with no commitment from the University

From dawn to dusk, Friday was a momentous day for the Wendy’s Boycott and the national struggle for farm labor justice.

In the morning, as Day Five of their fast for farmworker justice dawned on their encampment outside OSU’s administration building, 19 student fasters, along with a team of farmworkers from the CIW based in Columbus for the past six weeks, prepared for their long-awaited meeting with OSU administration officials to discuss their concerns over human rights conditions in Wendy’s supply chain. Lifted up by support from allies nationwide, including scores that dedicated their own sacrifice on the National Day of Prayer and Fasting, students’ goal was unwavering: to demand an answer, once and for all, as to whether the university would honor its commitment to cut its contract with Wendy’s over the fast food giant’s refusal to join the Fair Food Program. 

Then later that afternoon, following seven days of growing excitement as the Return to Human Rights Tour made its way from Atlanta and Nashville to Minneapolis and Chicago, the tour crew of workers from Immokalee and their allies arrived to Columbus to join forces with hundreds of national allies for a weekend of action.

In a moving Friday afternoon vigil outside of Wendy's headquarters in Dublin, OH that kicked off the weekend, a delegation of religious leaders — hailing from several denominations of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism — joined CIW farmworker leaders to commend the student fasters and, right on their doorstep, call on Wendy’s to take a basic moral stand for human rights. 

CIW's Lucas Benitez joins Rachel Kahn-Troster, Director of Programs for T'ruah and Sahar Alsahlani, Board Member of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR) to welcome the nearly 100 gathered for a vigil outside Wendy's headquarters in Dublin, OH

On Day 5 of their weeklong fast, OSU student fasters' spirits are lifted by the arrival of farmworkers and supportive allies from across the country

Two plants represent two industries. Lucas Benitez, CIW presents the first, “What do we see on this tree? It is a dying tree, it has been planted in infertile ground.   It represents the land and the tomato plants where Wendy’s buys their tomatoes.  In each of their hamburgers, in all of their stores, they are selling sick tomatoes from plants like this one…”

The second tree flourishes, as Lucas continues, "…And on this side, this is a plant that represents hope, its product is justice, it’s a plant where the earth is fertile.  That is the kind of fertile ground that the Fair Food Program is creating.  And you, all of us, are the fertilizer for this plant.  Those of you who are fasting, you are the water for this plant…”

Rachel Kahn-Troster, Director of Programs for T'ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights addresses the crowd with a moving reflection

Julie Taylor, Executive Director of Wendy's Boycott endorser National Farm Worker Ministry (LEFT), listens to fellow leaders after sharing inspiring words with the fasters and allies alongside longtime supporter Rev. Noelle Damico

Rev. Laura Young, pastor of Summit UMC in Columbus, OH draws on scripture to elevate the struggle of farmworkers seeking justice and the people of faith and conscience that support them nationwide

Alex Clemetson, a student at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio (FAR RIGHT), joins the OSU student fasters with whom MTSO students fasted in solidarity this week, after leading a prayer for farmworkers and allies present at the vigil

Rousing words from Rev. Dan Clarke, Ohio Deputy Director of Faith in Public Life, conclude the vigil and energize the crowd before they begin their Wendy's Boycott picket

Following a powerful, moving vigil, the protesters take to the sidewalk just outside Wendy's headquarters to make their call for farmworker justice loud and clear for executives to hear!

In spite of all the obstacles set before the growing Fair Food Nation — be it by Wendy’s, by OSU’s administration, or by other forces working to turn back on the clock on basic human rights in this country — the convergence yesterday of scores of indefatigable farmworkers from Florida, courageous student fasters from OSU, and steadfast allies arriving from all over the nation made one thing perfectly clear: Columbus, Ohio, is indeed, today, ground zero in the battle for Fair Food.

Head over to the CIW website for a full report on the OSU student fasters’ meeting with administrators, and of the Vigil for Human Rights outside Wendy’s headquarters in Ohio!