Dear Common Dreams Readers:
Bakery Workers Protest Trump's Immigration Crackdown in #DayWithoutBread
"Immigrants: they feed us all, no borders, no wall," they chanted, holding signs that read, "No ICE or No Bread."
A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) audit led to Tom Cat Bakery in Long Island City telling 31 longtime workers to produce new employment documents or be fired. (Photo: AP)
Four people were arrested Friday after they chained themselves to a delivery truck in support of immigrant workers at a Queens, New York bakery, who face a mass firing due to President Donald Trump's policies.
The protest, dubbed "A Day Without Bread," was organized to protest Trump's hard-line stance on immigration. A U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) audit led to Tom Cat Bakery in Long Island City telling 31 longtime workers to produce new employment documents or be fired. Friday is the extended deadline.
In response, workers walked off the job on what was due to be their final shift, and chained themselves to trucks overnight to halt a scheduled bread delivery Friday morning. More than 100 supporters rallied outside the bakery as the employees shared stories of facing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids and working at Tom Cat for decades.
"Immigrants: they feed us all, no borders, no wall," they chanted, holding signs that read, "No ICE or No Bread."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted his support for the protest, writing, "New York City's local labor laws cover low-wage workers and immigrants, regardless of status. Period."
Fight for $15, the nationwide movement for a $15 minimum wage, also tweeted, "We believe in a fair and humane immigration system that's why we're standing w/ NY bakers for the #DayWithoutBread."
Around the city, businesses put up posters in solidarity with the workers.
"immigrants they feed us all, no borders, no wall" - workers & their supporters outside tom cat bakery in LIC #daywithoutbread pic.twitter.com/dacIqRtm01
— Tejal Rao (@tejalrao) April 21, 2017
#DayWithoutBread workers share their stories - decades at Tom Cat, facing ICE raids. pic.twitter.com/9TfAeRBqGG
— Carol Scott (@csbrook) April 21, 2017
NYers are amazing! More immigrant businesses standing with workers at Tom Cat's bakery who are being targeted by ICE! #DayWithoutBread pic.twitter.com/Jj7JAxp3a0
— Widad (@WidadIndie) April 21, 2017
New York City's local labor laws cover low-wage workers and immigrants, regardless of status. Period. https://t.co/FiQPA7ghry
— Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) April 21, 2017
We believe in a fair and humane immigration system that’s why we’re standing w/ NY bakers for the #DayWithoutBread https://t.co/Ztm139KGNj pic.twitter.com/qwa73k4eHc
— Fight For 15 (@fightfor15) April 21, 2017
Another supporter, Gabriel Morales, told NBC News, "The racist, the xenophobic Trump has really broken our nation's immigration system."
Tom Cat supplies bread to numerous fine dining restaurants and hotels in New York City. It employs about 180 people in Long Island City.
Osias Davila, an employee of the bakery, told Democracy Now, "There are workers who have been here for 10 years, 18 years, and so it's unjust that Tom Cat treats us this way after we have given so much to the company to grow. It's a very large business with a lot of production. So what we're asking for at this time is that there's justice and that they stand up for their workers."