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Date of publication: July 6, 2006

Human Rights Activists Hold Anti-Sweatshop March and Carnival at 2006 ALL STAR Game

PITTSBURGH, PA- The Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance (PASCA), is hosting an Anti-Sweatshop Carnival to take place on Roberto Clemente Bridge during the 2006 All Star Game on July 11 at PNC Park.  The Carnival follows a rally and march protesting the sweatshop conditions in which Major League Baseball apparel is made.

PASCA has been asking for years that the Pittsburgh Pirates review worker testimony that reveals the unlawful, dangerous and inhumane sweatshop factories that are located in regions where Major League Baseball apparel is made.  PASCA demands that the Pirates tell Major League Baseball to adopt standards and codes of conduct similar to what over 150 Colleges and Universities have for sweatshop accountability, which includes full public disclosure of factory locations and wage disclosure.

All of the events leading up to the All-Star Game have been a part of PASCA’s SweatFree Baseball four year Campaign, which has consistently asked the Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Club to take a stand in support of workers sewing Major League Baseball logo apparel. “From the free bobbleheads distributed at many games, to the T-shirts given away at every game, to baseballs, much of what makes the game possible and enjoyable is produced in unacceptable working conditions.  Major League Baseball has not demonstrated the same level of concern for workers’ rights as it does for copyright violations. We are giving them a chance to show that they really do care about the people who make their products,” said PASCA member Michelle Gaffey.

“Jackie Robinson and Roberto Clemente would be pleased and would thank PASCA for their efforts against Sweatshops; another form of racist oppression, expressly directed against women.  I hope many thousands more will join you to make Pittsburgh proud of your stand in support of social justice,” said Dennis Brutus, co-founder of PASCA and Emeritus Professor, Africana Studies, University of Pittsburgh.

 

Who: Pittsburgh Anti-Sweatshop Community Alliance joined by the United Workers Association (UWA), Camden Yard stadium workers, national and local human rights activist.

What: March and Carnival to demand an end to sweatshop conditions used by Major League Baseball.   Rally prior to the March will include speakers who are some of the best human rights activist in America.  They are building the Civil Rights Bridge from PNC Park to the Floor of the Global sweatshop.  The march will go through downtown Pittsburgh to Roberto Clemente’s statue at PNC Park where the Anti-Sweatshop Carnival will be held. The Carnival will have sweatshop education activities including the “Wheel of Misfortune,” “Toss That Worker a Peanut,” and a Pirate Mural coloring contest.

Where: Rally at Freedom Corner in the Hill District, (Corner of Centre & Crawford Ave’s.  Pittsburgh, PA 15219)

March to Roberto Clemente’s commemorative statue at PNC Park on the North Shore.

When: July 11, Rally at 4:30PM and March at 5:15PM Carnival Activities on Roberto Clemente Bridge at 6:00pm

 

Visit http://sweatfree.org/baseball for more information, including the SweatFree Community's letter to Pirate's CEO Kevin McClatchy, an Anti-Sweatshop Declaration from PASCA to the Pirates, the proposed "We Are A Global Family" Pittsburg City Council Resolution, and recent press releases, media stories, fliers, and other information about PASCA--2006 All-Star Game.