Tampa FL – Over 200 people gathered in downtown Tampa’s Lykes Gaslight Park, May 23, to rally against Monsanto and march in support of fair labeling practices. Protesters held signs saying “Hell no GMOs,” “We are not a science experiment,” and “Stop eating cancer.” The crowd chanted, “Wendy’s and Micky D’s, stop using GMOs please.”

The crowd listened to speakers talk about the importance of honest labeling practices and healthy, sustainable agriculture after some time of sign making and petition signing. A large contingent of the organizers as well as the marchers was dressed as honeybees. Speakers reminded the crowd of how Monsanto’s practices are designed to make more profits for the big agriculture companies.

The crowd marched down Kennedy Boulevard for about a mile before turning back and ending at the park.

Marisol Marquez, of Raices in Tampa summed up why she was marching, “Connecting the dots between what U.S. consumers are purchasing, that comes from places like Colombia, and how the workers are being exploited there, is why I am here today. Monsanto products are used to the destroy crops of poor farmers in Colombia. Stop U.S. war in Colombia!”

#TampaFL #EnvironmentalJustice #RaicesEnTampa #Monsanto #MarchAgainstMonsanto

Salt Lake City, UT – Over 200 activists and community members gathered at the state capitol, May 24, to join with cities across the country by rallying against the Monsanto Corporation. People assembled on the steps of the capitol despite the rain to listen to a number of speakers including Craig Bowden, Melanie Widerburg-Zucker, Justin Danneman, Lorena Apgar Hansen and Jonathan Hansen. People spoke of the effects that Monsanto has across the globe and locally on families and communities.

The keynote speaker for the event was former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Anderson gave a fiery speech on the effects of corporate interests in the U.S. and nailed former Monsanto VP and lobbyist Michael Taylor who is now head of the FDA. Anderson stated, “We don’t need a government of the rich, we need a government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Musicians Michael Cundick and Josh Blakesley also performed for the crowd.

Gregory Lucero of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization was passing out a Fight Back! commentary describing Monsanto’s role in the U.S. dirty war in Colombia. Lucero said, “The U.S. government has spent over $8 billion since the year 2000 on war in Colombia. Monsanto is the company contracted by the U.S. military to spray Roundup chemicals on Colombian peasants’ crops under the guise of a 'war on drugs', decimating the countryside. This contributes to hundreds of thousands of displaced people in Colombia. We need to support Colombian farmers and say, 'No more Monsanto fumigations. No to U.S. war in Colombia!' We’re out here to show our solidarity with the Colombian people.”

The crowd then took to the streets in a militant manner, despite a police presence, marching from the capitol to the County Building. The large group raised their signs and banners as they walked through traffic chanting “Monsanto against the wall, no more GMO’s at all” and “Monsanto no more, we won’t fund your secret war!” Protest leaders ended the protest with calls for the people of Salt Lake City to continue organizing and fighting back.

#SaltLakeCityUT #Colombia #FreedomRoadSocialistOrganization #USImperialism #Monsanto #MarchAgainstMonsanto #GMO

Miami, FL – About 400 people gathered downtown here, May 24, as part of a global day of action to “March Against Monsanto.” Activists and concerned families, young and old, met outside of the Adrienne Arsht Center Metro Mover with signs and banners, chanting, “Save our farmers, save our seeds, listen to the people's needs!”

Those in attendance called on the corporate food monopoly to stop creating and selling genetically modified organisms (GMOs), for the U.S. government to place labels on all genetically modified foods and for the food giant to stop forcing farmers throughout the world to buy its seeds and products.

“While the health concerns regarding GMOs are legitimate, what is worse is the disastrous impact Monsanto has on people and workers throughout the world,” said Pamela Maldonado, a lead organizer with the anti-war group POWIR. “In countries like Colombia, where I was born, Monsanto and the U.S. continue to instigate violence and repression.”

Monsanto is a powerful arm of the U.S. empire, especially in Colombia where the U.S. government and Monsanto work in tandem to destroy the lands and farms of small farmers in that country. The majority of farms destroyed by Monsanto's poisons are those owned by farmers living in areas where the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) have a strong presence. So the toxic chemicals created by Monsanto are being used to further U.S. domination over the people of Colombia.

Hundreds of people marched along Biscayne Boulevard, beginning first on the sidewalk and later taking to the streets chanting, “Hell no, GMO! Hell no, GMO!” Onlookers took part in the chanting and some even joined in the march, as passing cars honked in solidarity. As people marched under the hot South Florida sun, they held signs that read, “I am not a science experiment,” and “Support farmers and workers! End Monsanto's monopoly over the food industry!”

The march lasted two hours, as protesters wound their way throughout busy Biscayne Bay. Upon returning to the Metro Mover stop, protesters listened to speeches by local community members and political hopefuls.

#MiamiFL #Monsanto #MarchAgainstMonsanto #GMO