The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Katherine Paul, 207.653.3090

Liz Reitzig, 301.807.5063

Groups to Rally Against Legislation to Keep Consumers in the Dark

Biotech-Backed Bill Would Gut Consumer & States’ Rights to Label GMOs

WASHINGTON

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) will lead a rally of GMO labeling advocates who oppose HR 4432 introduced by Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-Kan.). The bill, which has been dubbed the Deny Americans the Right to Know (DARK) Act, would block states' efforts to label food containing genetically engineered ingredients.

Who: Organic Consumers Association (OCA). Participating groups include Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, National Council of Environmental Legislators, Friends of the Earth, Credo, Green America, Weston Price Foundation, Cornucopia Institute, Food Democracy Now!, Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, MoveOn.org, GMO Free USA, March against Monsanto, Moms across America and others.

What: Rally and protest immediately following the Congressional hearing for H.R. 4432 in the House Energy and Commerce Committee, followed by an organic lunch where speakers will be available for interviews.

Why: HR. 4432 protects corporate profits at the expense of consumers' rights to know what's in their food, and states' rights to pass food labeling laws

Speakers: Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine)

VT Rep. Kate Webb, co-sponsor of Vermont's GMO labeling law

Jonathan Emord, Attorney, Author

Randy Hartnell, business owner, founder and president of Vital Choice Wild Seafood in Washington State

Will Allen, Author, Farmer who helped pass Vermont's GMO labeling law

Others to be announced

When: Wednesday, December 10, 2014 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM. Lunch will follow at approximately 11 a.m.

Where: Washington D.C. Rally at southeast corner of the Capitol grounds at Independence and 1st Street, SE. Organic lunch will be held at Capitol Hill Presbyterian Church, 201 4th St. SE (4th and Independence Ave, SE). A media room will be set up in the library of the church.

Visuals: Families with banners, signs; activists with blindfolds on; caravan of GMO cars (fishycorn cars) link to pictures here.

More information here.

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) is an online and grassroots 501(c)3 nonprofit public interest organization, and the only organization in the U.S. focused exclusively on promoting the views and interests of the nation's estimated 50 million consumers of organically and socially responsibly produced food and other products. OCA educates and advocates on behalf of organic consumers, engages consumers in marketplace pressure campaigns, and works to advance sound food and farming policy through grassroots lobbying. We address crucial issues around food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability, including pesticide use, and other food- and agriculture-related topics.