March for Rights, Respect, and Fair Food

An Opportunity to March and Stand on the Side of Love

Here is some information for congregations and others who wish to join in on the last leg of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) upcoming March for Rights, Respect and Fair Food. Information will be updated as it evolves.

Information on some recent Unitarian Universalist involvement can be found here. Participating Unitarian Universalists are encouraged to wear their Standing on the Side of Love shirts. For a list of participating Unitarian Universalist congregations, check here.

The CIW website has an interactive map of the march route.

While participation is welcome all along the 175-mile route, a special effort is being made to ensure a large turn out as the march ends.

On Sunday, March 17, the last leg of the march will be 6 miles in Lakeland, FL (about 45 minutes east of Tampa). It ends at Publix headquarters at 4:00 pm.

Here is the plan for the day. Join in when and where you can!:

If unable to walk, meet at Publix Headquarters

11-11:45 am Shuttles provided from Publix HQ to march start site (Publix supermarket) - So you'll have your car at the end of the march!

11:30 am March the Final 6 miles:

Meet at Southgate Publix, 2515 S Florida Ave, Lakeland

Park at St. David's Episcopal Church, 145 E Edgewood Dr, Lakeland

1-1:45 pm Shuttles provided from Publix HQ to 3-mile mark (Publix supermarket) - So you'll have your car at the end of the march!

2:00 pm March the Final 3 miles:

Meet at Oakbridge Publix Supermarket, 3636 Harden Blvd, Lakeland

Park in business areas around Publix

4:00 pm   Ceremony and Rally at Publix corporate headquarters 

3300 Publix Corporate Parkway, Lakeland, FL, Airport Rd. entrance

To direct questions to our First Unitarian organizing team contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Register now with the CIW to aid in their planning or contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (239)313-1081

From the Orlando area: A caravan will transport marchers from 1U to Lakeland following the second worship service on March 17. So that we have space for everyone, please sign up to participate by completing our CIW March Registration Form or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information. As of March 13 we have at least 50 people planning to attend from 1U. They will leave ceremonially just before the end of the 11:00 am service.  

Participating UU Congregations: The following Unitarian Universalist congregations will be participating on March 17 or supporting the 2-week march in other ways: Unitarian Universalists of Clearwater, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Lakeland, First Unitarian Church of Orlando, Unitarian Universalist Church in Tarpon Spring.  email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  to let us know if we can add your congregation to the list. 

Background:

The CIW and allies will march 150 miles to Lakeland, FL in a two-week March for Rights, Respect, and Fair Food! The march, which begins in Ft Myers, FL on Sunday, March 3, will end at the Publix headquarters in Lakeland on Sunday, March 17.

Recently, UUs from several central Florida congregations gathered with community partners to learn more about the CIW’s Fair Food program.  The day culminated with a picket at the Publix in downtown Orlando where they were joined by farm workers and their families. A delegation from the group met with store managers to encourage Publix to sign on to the program which increases wages and improves working conditions for tomato pickers. To read about the day, click here. (Scroll down to find links to news stories at the bottom of the report.)

Participants committed to helping to swell the ranks of the upcoming march as it approaches the Publix headquarters on March 17. Volunteers from First Unitarian Church of Orlando are working closely with the CIW and Interfaith Action to be able to provide UUs statewide with logistical information for involvement for that day.This page will be updated with the latest information. 

 30 Days of Love

"The Congregation has Left the Building" 

1U joined the Standing on the Side of Love campaign in the celebration of 30 Days of Love  from Martin Luther King Day to Valentine’s Day (though our calendar ran a little longer than just 30 days!) A number of 1U and community events highlighted our commitment to standing on the side of love, justice, and full equality.

Here's what happened!

All 30 Days The Love Tree

The children in the religious education program created a Love Tree with hanging heart tags. Each tag listed an item that could be purchased and returned to the tree for later deliver to the New Image Youth Center.

Sunday 1/13 City of Orlando’s MLK Vigil and Interfaith Service

A strong contingent from 1U joined the "candlelight" vigil and march from City Hall to First United Methodist Church where we celebrated the life and legacy of The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a service coordinated by the Interfaith Council of Central Florida and the Mayor's MLK Commission.  A highlight was seeing 3 of our 1U children sing in the interfaith children's choir called "Everyone's Children."

Sat – Mon 1/19-21 Weekend of Service

1U members headed out into the community for a weekend of service at Community Food & Outreach Center. It was great to learn about the good work of this organization and to put our hands to work on their behalf.

Monday 1/21 Spaghetti Dinner  & MLK Day Concert  at 1U

Yummy, delightful, and inspiring... words that describe our evening with UU singer/song writer David Roth. We look forward to bringing other such talent to our community.

Thursday 1/24 Rock n’ Roe: Planned Parenthood Benefit Concert, 7:00-10:00 pm

A vibrant crowd including 1U members and friends, celebrated the 40th anniversary (01-22-73) of Roe v. Wade with keynote speaker, Honorable Patricia Schroeder. Joyce Hamilton Henry, ALCU Mid-FL Director and Rev. Kathy also addressed the group which gathered at The Venue and was entertained by three local bands.

Saturday 2/2 Interfaith Action & CIW Workshop at 1U

Our workshop at 1U gave us and our community partners a chance to learn more about the Coalition of Immokalee Workers and their fair Food Campaign. The day culminated with farm workers from Immokalee joining us at the downtown Publix for a vibrant public witness event. Picket lines of 30 people each circulated on either side of Central Blvd as a delegation asked Publix managers to become partners in the Fair Food Program. Foot traffic from Lake Eola gave us many opportunities to share information about this cause with the curious folks passing by.

Saturday 2/2 1U at Second Harvest Food Bank 

This event was cancelled because the new facility was not yet ready to receive volunteers. Watch for our next event on April 6. Typically, our bi-monthly food sorting and packing project takes place from 1-4:00 pm. RSVPs to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thursday 2/14 Human Heart 

The 5th annual "Human Heart: An OUTright Love-in" on Valentine's Day left the rain-drenched park and headed to the site of the after party, "The Venue," and there we created our human heart. We celebrated the progress made toward equal rights in the past year and committed ourselves to the on-going work!

at 1U but co-Sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Brevard, Florida and the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of Florida. With Unitarian Universalists from around the state, we had a chance to consider the intersection of several contemporary issues: democracy, environmentalism, and addiction.

A fabulous evening of magic, comedy, improv, music, and theater by our teens benefited the Standing on the Side of Love campaign. The talent and enthusiasm was enjoyed by an appreciative crowd.