PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

Anti-Sweatshop Activists in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee Converge on Stadiums
by Rovin' Workman Tuesday, Sep. 24, 2002 at 7:43 AM
nosweatshopsbucco@yahoo.com

Activists in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee keep up the pressure on local baseball teams which profit from sweatshop labor.

Anti-sweatshop activists in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh educated baseball fans about the use of sweatshop labor by their "home teams" on Sunday, Sept. 22.

Pittsburgh activists converged on PNC park around 11:30am to speak with fans about the need for full public disclosure by Major League Baseball (MLB) of factory locations where baseball garments are sewn. Almost four thousand leaflets were handed-out to fans; these leaflets contained information on demands of some Bangladeshi workers, detailing their microscopic wages, and informed fans of the sweatshop-contracting manufacturers of Pirates' clothing.

One activist was apparrently detained while circulating a petition calling on the Pirates to take action to rid MLB of sweatshops. The activist stated he was brought to a basement area of PNC Park, harassed and interrogated by the PNC police (who referred to themselves as "Contemporary Services"), and then released.

Enraged fellow activists vowed they would not be intimidated and did not leave the area of PNC Park, continuing to speak to fans, pass out "Sweat Free Baseball" stickers, and petition well after the end of the game.

In Milwaukee, an activist was arrested while passing-out information several hundred feet from Miller Park. The activist was cited under a municipal statute prohibiting "putting" or otherwise posting signs, handbills, banners, etc. within a park or parkway area. So much for the First Amendment.

This fight against sweatshops and for free speech around publicly-financed stadiums will continue into the off-season, with No Sweatshops Bucco! campaign members vowing to continue the struggle until public disclosure occurs.

add your comments