Protesters of various age groups, from little girls in bright pink tights to world-worn men and women, stood an arm’s length apart Saturday morning in an attempt to surround Cameron Village’s Harris Teeter.
The protesters sang a modified version of “We Shall Not Be Moved,” and chanted, “Justice right now, our time.” All this was in protest of Harris Teeter’s involvement with Smithfield Foods, Inc.
Smithfield Foods is a pork producer and processing company that protesters claim violates basic human rights.
Smithfield Justice, a campaign for fair treatment of Smithfield Foods’ workers, said on its Web site the company has created a work environment of intimidation, racial tension, fear and violence.
Stephen Roller, a member of the College Democrats and freshman in computer science, said the Smithfield Foods plant in Wake County is preventing its workers from unionizing.
According to College Democrats President Drew Ball, Smithfield Foods uses racial tension to intimidate workers. He said the company also commits basic human-rights violations.
“The abuse of the workers by the Smithfield company is just unacceptable,” Ball, a senior in political science, said.
Rodney Vines, a Harris Teeter employee, refused to comment on the protest.
When Angaza Laughinghouse, president of the N.C. Public Service Workers Union, UE Local 150, went to greet another Harris Teeter employee with a handshake, the employee refused to acknowledge the act of salutation.
“Isn’t that strange?” Laughinghouse said. “We’re all human, right?”
Protesters voiced their concerns through united chants promising continued support for Smithfield Foods workers. “As long as it takes, we will stand; we will fight; we will protest, as long as it takes.”
Each protester said he or she had a personal reason for venturing out and joining the protest held on the sidewalk separating Harris Teeter from Cameron Street and Oberlin Road.
Roller said he hoped the protest would create awareness and ideally cause Harris Teeter to stop carrying Smithfield products and allow its workers to unionize.
Ball said he thinks Harris Teeter should stop carrying Smithfield products until the abuse is ended.
“It’s our responsibility to stand against this unfair treatment,” he said.
Jacob Downey, a Wake County resident, said he decided to join the protest to support people who work hard.
“[It] seemed like a simple thing to do — show solidarity,” Downey said.
Laura Gardner, a member of College Democrats, said she can’t believe these kinds of work situations are still occurring in America in this day and age.
“Human justice — people being treated fairly — is one of the most important issues [America] should be looking at,” Gardner, a sophomore in chemistry, said.
Angela Cutler, a member of College Democrats, said she wanted to participate in the protest because of the public’s lack of awareness of the hazardous conditions Smithfield workers suffer.
“They’re treated inhumane, like machines and not humans.” Cutler, a senior in accounting, said.
Doug Czhaka, a Wake County resident, said he wanted to help bring awareness of labor-rights issues in Wake County.
“Union is such a dirty word [in Wake County],” he said. “It gets swept under the table a lot.”
According to Hubbe, there are a “whole lot of pushes right now” concerning workers. She said three major campaigns — Farm Workers Union, Smithfield Campaign, and UE 150 — have all been growing recently.
“[There are] several huge efforts right now that are [trying] to end the abuse,” she said.
According to Laughinghouse, people came out to support those efforts.
“These are democratic rights in a democracy,” he said. ” We should be able to exercise those rights.”
News Editor Laura White contributed to this story.