Fair trade or bust bus visits Gainesville

Fair trade or bust bus visits Gainesville
March 1998

The Fair Trade or Bust Bus Tour rolled into Gainesville on Feb. 19 and joined local community and labor organizations for a rally for fair trade at the Florida Farm Bureau building. About 200 attended a rally, which was the windup of a 7-stop swing through the South visiting communities impacted by the GATT and NAFTA free trade agreements. House minority whip David Bonior had high praise for our local Representative Karen Thurman and her stand against free trade, and Thurman brought forward the losses Florida Farmers are feeling, especially tomato growers. All who spoke cited the growing power of global corporations, and that it comes down to working people to raise their voices in opposition to corporate greed.

Adding to the tour was populist radio host Jim Hightower, whose Chat & Chew broadcast is heard on 110 stations nationwide. He broadcast live from the rally. A tape of that broadcast is available at the Civic Media Center.