Fields of Resistance

"Gignoni tells the stories of farmworkers, mothers, priests, and plutocrats with compassion, poetry, and fierce humanity." —Raj Patel, author of Stuffed and Starved Migrant farmworkers in the United States are routinely forced to live and work in unsafe, often desperate, conditions. In response, farmworkers in Immokalee, Florida—known as America's tomato capital—formed the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). Against powerful adversaries, the CIW went on to launch nationwide campaigns that have forced the corporate giants of the fast food world—McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell—and grocery industries to concede to their demands for increased wages and just working conditions. As their struggle, and that of immigrants and low-wage workers everywhere, continues, Silvia Giagnoni presents their remarkable story. "Captures the brilliant, difficult, and sustained organizing work of immigrant activists against the megacorporations, such as Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Whole Foods, that profit from their labor. If there was ever any doubt that workers' rights are human rights, this book will put the notion to rest." —Vanessa Tait, author of Poor Workers' Unions: Rebuilding Labor from Below "A sweet victory for social justice. A testament to the tenacity of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers." —Katrina Vanden Heuvel, editor of the Nation "The Immokalee farmworkers' heroic struggle for justice in the fields is an inspiring reminder of the value of hope and the power of solidarity." —Tom Morello, guitarist, songwriter, and activist