Local Taco Bell protest draws 30

By Jack Gillum

About 30 students gathered outside the Taco Bell across the street from Santa Clara Wednesday evening to protest what they believe are human rights abuses against tomato pickers.

Protesters organized outside the fast food restaurant, 2555 The Alameda, at about 5:30 p.m., chanting "Taco Bell exploits farm workers!" and "Stop abuse of human rights!"

Some protesters held paper signs and red baskets, similar to the buckets farmworkers use to pick tomatoes that end up in a Chalupa or taco.

Event organizers say that Taco Bell and its parent company, Yum!, pay their tomato pickers substandard wages and force them to live in squalor.

Several students traveled to Florida over spring break on a univerity-sponsored immersion trip to visit the Coalition of Immokale Workers. There, they spent time talking with farm workers and picked tomatoes for a nine-hour day.

Associated Students President-elect Annie Selak said that Santa Clara students should challenge themselves and "find out more" about Taco Bell.

"As a Jesuit school, we believe in social justice," Selak said. "This is putting values into action."

If students found out more about the issue, she said, "they would 100 percent be on our side."

Selak was among nine other students who participated in the Florida trip.

The protest, said English professor Judith Dunbar, makes "connections between peace and justice," helping the university become more aware of issues in the world.

One Santa Clara police officer was present for a brief period, but no arrests were made. Authorities were aware of the hour-long protest this week, said Sgt. Kurt Clarke, a police spokesman.

Junior Maria Shao heard about the rally less than an hour before from her friend.

"I want people to be informed about the issues," Shao said. "We're all pretty isolated."

The hour-long demonstration was centered outside of the Taco Bell, but remained on city sidewalks. Management inside would not comment.

Many passers-by honked horns, while some threw peace signs.

"A corporation like Taco Bell has a capacity to pay its workers a living wage," junior Josh Sbicca said. "People need to be aware of where their tomatoes come from so they know that human rights abuses do occur."

û Contact Jack Gillum at (408) 554-4849 or jgillum@scu.edu.