Local March Against Monsanto announced for Saturday, May 25 at 2 p.m.

Press release

From March Against Monsanto Asheville

March Against Monsanto Asheville announced today that 500 people will “March Against Monsanto” in the streets of Asheville on May 25. The march will start at 2 p.m. at Pack Square Park and will feature speakers, live music, local vendors, Non GMO Food and information tables in addition to the March through downtown Asheville.

Donna Ricks, an organizer of the event, says she was inspired to lead the march because she’s “concerned about a multinational chemical corporation wielding so much power over our food supply and our government. The people have to fight back to protect our farmers, the environment and most importantly, our health,” she says. “I’m one person but thankfully, I do not stand alone.”

A Rally featuring speakers and live music at Pack Square Park will immediately follow the March at 3 p.m. Local live bands include Ph Factor, Red Honey and Free Radio. The rally will feature local speakers including “kid farmer” Birke Baehr, Anne Peterman from the Global Justice Ecology Project, local farmer Frances Tacy of Franny’s Farm, local beekeeper Dayna Reggero and Tom Llewellyn and Emma Hutchens of the Asheville based REAL Cooperative.

Tami Monroe Canal, lead organizer and creator of the now-viral March Against Monsanto Facebook page, says she was inspired to start the movement to protect her two daughters. “I feel Monsanto threatens their generation’s health, fertility and longevity. I couldn’t sit by idly, waiting for someone else to do something.”

It’s clear that the citizens of Asheville won’t sit idly by either; the March Against Monsanto has received a huge wave of support throughout the community and online since the concepts’ inception in the early Spring. Emma Hutchens of the REAL Cooperative says, “Asheville is joining an international movement to stand up against Biotech goliaths like Monsanto that are flexing their power around the world; destroying small farms, devastating biodiversity, forcing dependence on chemical agriculture, and operating with almost no transparency or government oversight. This is a celebration to remind Monsanto that the world is watching- we are citizens, not blind consumers.”

Partners facilitating the organizing of March Against Monsanto Asheville include Occupy Monsanto, REAL Cooperative, Stop GE Trees and dedicated grassroots community organizers who have worked hard to make this event a success. Official website for the global March Against Monsanto: www.march-against-monsanto.com.

This march occurs on the eve of a week of resistance to the upcoming Tree Biotech 2013 Conference to be hosted at Asheville’s own Renaissance Hotel. More information about Genetically Engineered(GE) Trees and the schedule of events can be found at www.treebiotech2013.org.