Civil and Labor Rights Delegation Stands in Solidarity with Georgia Immigrant Community Following Deadly Foundation Food Group Gas Leak
For Immediate Release
Friday, March 19, 2021
Contacts:
Betsy López-Wagner, López-Wagner Strategies, blopezwagner@gmail.com (English, Español)
Alfredo Ramirez, ALRAS Digital, alfredo@alrasdigital.com (English, Español)
MEDIA ADVISORY
Civil and Labor Rights Delegation Stands in Solidarity with Georgia Immigrant Community Following Deadly Foundation Food Group Gas Leak
Washington, D.C. – The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), a trusted Latino grassroots labor group advocating for workers’ rights and the intersectional issues they face, is sending a delegation to Gainesville, Georgia on Tuesday, March 23, to stand in solidarity with local communities and civil rights organizations following a fatal accident at a nearby poultry plant in January.
The delegation, led by LCLAA leaders, includes representatives from the American Federation of Teachers, Georgia AFL-CIO, Southern Poverty Law Center, Poder Latinx, and Georgia Familias Unidas who will meet with area community leaders, nonprofits and political officials to grieve the January nitrogen gas leak at Foundation Food Group that claimed the life of six workers, sent 12 to area hospitals and endangered the lives of 130 workers.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and local authorities continue to investigate the chemical leak.
Civil Rights groups continue to apply pressure for accountability and additional safeguards to keep the majority-immigrant community safe in this “Poultry Capital of the World.” The accident occurred during a global pandemic that continues to disproportionately impact Latino, Black and Asian communities. A live press conference will be held by the delegation and live streamed on LCLAA’s Facebook page. A social distancing-friendly gathering will follow the press conference to support those impacted by the accident.
PRESS CONFERENCE: March 23 at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT, Interactive College of Technology – Gainesville, 2323 Browns Bridge Rd, Gainesville, GA 30504. Live streamed on LCLAA’s Facebook.
WHO:
Jose Vargas, LCLAA Executive Director
Yanira Merino, LCLAA National President
Evelyn De Jesus, AFT Executive Vice President
Fedrick C. Ingram, AFT Secretary-Treasurer
Charlie Flemming, Georgia AFL-CIO President
Maria Rosario Palacios, Georgia Familias Unidas Director
Edgar Fields, Vice President RWDSU
Representative from the Southern Poverty Law Center
Susana Duran, Poder Latinx Georgia State Director
Sindy Benavides, LULAC Chief Executive Officer
An Undisclosed Worker will also join the delegation
WHO WE ARE
The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is a national 501(c)3 nonprofit Latino labor organization with 52 chapters across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Our power is seen and felt through community advocacy, education, organizing, and engagement that elevates the social, political, and economic advancement of working families.
The American Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, was founded in 1916 and today represents 1.7 million members in more than 3,000 local affiliates nationwide.
The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) works tirelessly to improve the lives of working people. We are the democratic, voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions that represent 12.5 million people.
Georgia Familias Unidas provides relief and mutual aid to poultry plant workers and families in the form of resources that build up power.
The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements, and advance the human rights of all people.
Poder Latinx is building a political wave where the Latinx community plays a key role in the transformation of our country.
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The Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) is the leading national organization for Latino(a) workers and their families. LCLAA was born in 1972 out of the need to educate, organize and mobilize Latinos in the labor movement and has expanded its influence to organize Latinos in an effort to impact workers’ rights and their influence in the political process. LCLAA represents the interest of more than 2 million Latino workers in the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), The Change to Win Federation, Independent Unions and all its membership. Visit LCLAA on the web at www.lclaa.org, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.