If you could help end modern-day slavery in Florida's fields with an 
email, would you? Those of you who have followed the CIW's work over the years know that  the issue of forced labor has been a central focus of our efforts  
since we began organizing in 1993. So you know that we wouldn't call  
for an email action campaign on slavery if we didn't truly believe  
your email could help.

Today, we believe it can, and here's why: In all the years we have  
been fighting forced labor in Florida's fields, one very important  
player has remained stubbornly on the sidelines. Despite seven major  
prosecutions in the past decade, not once has the governor of our  
state -- the chief executive who wields tremendous public and  
political influence over the state's agricultural industry -- said a  
single word to condemn this most egregious human rights violation.  
Three men have occupied the post in that time and not one has said a  
word.

Today, with your help, we are going to demand that Governor Charlie  
Crist take the field in the fight against slavery. In the wake of the  
governor's spokesman's outrageous comments diminishing the  
significance of farm labor slavery, the CIW is calling on Gov. Crist  
to commit the full power of his office to address the plague of modern-
day slavery in Florida’s fields.

Add your voice to this call today by clicking on the following link,  
where you can learn more about the petition campaign and send an email  or fax to the governor today:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Governor_Crist_stand_against_slavery

Stay tuned to http://www.ciw-online.org for more details on the  
petition campaign in the weeks ahead!

Thanks,
the Coalition of Immokalee Workers