Protesters march against genetically modified foods in Ann Arbor
Protesters march along Liberty Street in Ann Arbor to show their objection to genetically modified foods.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Ann Arbor Saturday to protest the use of genetically modified foods. The protest, dubbed the March Against Monsanto began on the University of Michigan Diag at 1 p.m. and ended at Hanover Square Park on Packard Street.
Monsanto is a $ billion St. Louis, Mo.-based agriculture technology company that sells, among other things, genetically modified seeds for farming. It says its products pose no risk to humans.
People of all ages, including children, were among the protesters, many of whom carried signs with messages like "My family's food is not your experiment," and "Do you know what you are eating?" One little girl wore a sign around her neck stating, "I am not a science experiment."
"I want my kids to be able to eat the food they grow from seeds that can reproduce themselves," said Rebecca Laduca from Ann Arbor, who marched with her husband and their young son who got a lift on his dad's back.
Some protesters called for labeling of genetically modified foods, so that consumers can decide whether to eat it or not.
"We need transparency," said Ann Arbor resident Erin Gelderman. "It's always labeled if something is gluten-free or peanut-free. Why can't they tell us if there are genetically engineered foods in a product?"
The U.S. Senate voted this past Thursday against an amendment to the farm bill that would have let states decide whether to require the labeling of genetically modified organisms.
A protester chants during what was labeled the March Against Monsanto.
Courtney Sacco | AnnArbor.com
Monsanto also says its genetically modified products are safe."Food derived from authorized genetically-modified (GM) crops is as safe as conventional (non-GM-derived) food," the company states on its website.
Saturday was an international day of protests that included marches in 10 Michigan cities, and 330 marches in more than 40 countries. Kryssi Jones organized the march in Ann Arbor and said the primary goals were to educate people about genetically modified foods and tell them what they can do.
Cale Stoker and his friend Paul Hensler came to Ann Arbor from Adrian to join the protest march.
"I'm carrying this sign to get attention," said Stoker, whose sign included the words, "Grow food not lawns."
"My uncle is a farmer, and I don't want to see him negatively affected by GMOs," said Hensler.
Lisa Carolin is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com. Contact the news desk at news@annarbor.com or 734-623-2530.
Comments
Fred Pettit
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 7:27 p.m.
The article states "Kryssi Jones organized the march in Ann Arbor and said the primary goals were to educate people about genetically modified foods and tell them what they can do." Have all their educational points been included in the article? If so they did not do much to educate on the subject other than a few opinions.
cb
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 3:51 a.m.
I'd like to know what happened to all of the comments that were on here earlier today? Does annarbor.com delete them after they get a certain number? Just wondering....
Kyle Mattson
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 3:10 p.m.
We do not delete comments cb, any removed for violation of community guidelines will appear with a 'blocked comment' message. There are only a select few of these on this story, if you ever have a question regarding a blocked comment shoot me an email and I can look into it for you. Thanks!
PaulW
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 1:21 p.m.
Intelligent people can disagree about GMOs in food. There are PhDs on both sides. Foods must be labeled to enable individual choice. Whole Foods, Kroger, and Trader Joes support labeling GMO food.
G. Orwell
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 2:44 a.m.
To show how much power Monsanto has, Obama appointed Michael Taylor, former lawyer for Monsanto, as the Food Safety Czar. Talk about putting a fox in charge of the hen house. Why do you think he appointed a Monsanto insider for such an important position. That is right. To help cover up the dangers of GMOs.
BhavanaJagat
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 4:06 a.m.
Thanks for your post. I liked it and the system reduced your voter score and it really scares me to "Vote Up".
G. Orwell
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 12:24 a.m.
If GMOs are so safe, why do Monsanto scientist REFUSE to eat them. Monsanto only serves organic foods in their cafeterias. Google it.
Laura Jones
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 3:18 a.m.
Thats an old reference, since debunked. I am no GMO fan, but that one is simply not true.
G. Orwell
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 2:41 a.m.
@Laura Here you go. From Greenpeace, "Eat it up Monsanto!" http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/eat-it-up-monsanto/blog/39002/
Laura Jones
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 2:31 a.m.
Multiple articles have debunked that rumor, Monsanto has issued a statement, independent sources also stated it was an old rumor.
Homeland Conspiracy
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 2:13 a.m.
Laura do you have any proof?
Laura Jones
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 12:58 a.m.
Actually, that is an urban myth.
Dirty Mouth
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 8:16 p.m.
Monsanto's Frankencrops are unleashing hell both flora and fauna and I salut the brave marchers. As for Guy Fawkes masks? Probably left over from the New York City protests.
Colorado Sun
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 7:21 p.m.
You are missing something, David. In 1998, criminal warrants were issued against 35 persons from the office of Prosecuting Attorney Brian Mackie arising out of the KKK demonstration in downtown Ann Arbor. No Klansmen were charged but counter-demonstrators were. Every defendant named in the warrant was identified via police photography made during the demonstration. 21 persons were arraigned and one was convicted;he received nine months of probation. With masks, the prosecutions would have never occurred. These students are doing the smart thing.
Nicholas Urfe
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 12:15 p.m.
As I recall some of the counter protesters hid rocks in bushes to throw during the protest. So yes, masks would have helped them but violent protests have no place in our society and they were rightly prosecuted.
a2citizen
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 1:42 a.m.
If the counter demonstrators didn't tear down fences, throw rocks through windows or assault people they wouldn't have been charged.
Cheryl Jordan
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 7:21 p.m.
Monsanto needs to be shut down. They are going to make people sterile and get cancer and die. I believe this is in there agenda. WAKE UP ! they are messing with the bees and mother nature and need to GO AWAY !! HELL NO GMO !!!
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 9:18 p.m.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-health/gmo-safety-zmgz13amzsto.aspx#axzz2UR4w1qvv Well some studies do indicate problems.
Robert Honeyman
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 8:43 p.m.
1. monsanto won't be shut down, any more than dow chemical will be shut down. 2. monsanto *does* need to be regulated and their products *do* need to be identified in the products we consider purchasing 3. there's no science to indicate gmo causes human sterility, cancer, or death. 4. there's no science to indicate gmo does *not* cause human sterility, cancer, or death. 5. monsanto's agenda is to control the supply of the world's seed stock. 6. governments' jobs (here and abroad) must include ensuring no single supplier can have monopoly power. on the whole, monsanto is evil only because the u.s. government chooses to allow the company to fully express what is natural in the free market system. once the federal government requires gmo labeling, only republicans will choose to buy the garbage (as a political statement!), thus ensuring further weakening of the right, if gmo proves as bad as it might be.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 6:25 p.m.
Mommy my Frankenfood just bit me!!!
BhavanaJagat
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 4:41 p.m.
Whole Dude - Whole Food: I congratulate all the participants for giving their time to express a serious concern about the true nature of food that we consume. This problem is contributed by our unwillingness to define the term 'food'. To define the term 'food', we need to describe the basic functions it performs. Food provides nutritional substances that provide us with energy and matter that we use for growth, development, and maintenance of our bodies. This role of food in human nutrition is fully recognized. There are four other functions that food performs, and these are, 1. Food provides psychological satisfaction and mental contentment, 2. Food helps social bonding and develops social relations, 3. Food helps us to make moral choices and express our cultural and religious values, and 4. Food is a spiritual medium that helps man to receive Divine Providence. Genetically Modified Organisms have to be rejected as they undermine the spiritual role of food in human life.
simone66
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:47 p.m.
I participated in this protest and I think at one point, there was nearly a thousand people. What was interesting to note was how in awe a lot of the public was in watching the march as we walked down Liberty and made a right onto Main street. We got a lot of smiles, applause, and waves. Most people used their smartphones to film us or take pictures. The point is, people took notice, and hopefully with that, they will take the next step and learn more about why we're so concerned about GMOs and the greed and dangers of Monsanto.
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:36 p.m.
This is not a fringe issue. Why does Monsanto need special law that limits their product liability for damage to humans? Why was the Monsanto Protection Act slipped quietly into the Farm Bill? Why did Monsanto lobby for special protection from liability? What do they know that we do not? The act itself is an outrage to public policy. The idea that they spent so much money to get it put in so quietly is chilling. There is something rotten here.
Brad
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:54 p.m.
And after they all headed over to Krazy Jim's for a quint.
ManA2
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:53 p.m.
PETA advocates genetically breeding for polled cows. Polled cows are those born without horns so they don't need to have the buds removed when they are born. Will these same protestors be protesting against PETA next weekend?
ItsTheTruth
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:04 p.m.
Most of the people there didn't wear masks and it was a VERY large protest. I am surprised annarbor.com would put this slant on it of a tiny group of mask wearing protesters. This is going to affect your children and your grandchildren. Try reading The World According to Monsanto or do some research. This company is bullying the small farmer out of business and although you may think this doesn't affect you it will.
aes
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 10:34 p.m.
I watched from the corner of Main and Liberty and thought that there were a good 1000 people marching through there in protest of Monsanto (not just several hundred as the journalist reported), and they were all kinds of people--young and old, well dressed and casually dressed, with children and without.
Jack Gladney
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:54 p.m.
...And next week they'll be marching somewhere in support of free chemicals to alter their daughters' reproductive hormones.
Great Lakes Lady
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.
Debbie Stabenow this week voted AGAINST a measure to a GMO labeling amendment in the Farm bill that would have simply said it was okay for states to decide for themselves whether or not to label GMO foods. "The concept we're talking about today is a fairly commonsense and non-radical idea," said the amendment's sponsor, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) according to the Huffington Post. "All over the world, in the European Union, in many other countries around the world, dozens and dozens of countries, people are able to look at the food that they are buying and determine through labeling whether or not that product contains genetically modified organisms." Read more: http://naturalsociety.com/senate-shoots-down-gmo-labeling-bill/#ixzz2UOxdKeLn Follow us: @naturalsociety on Twitter | NaturalSociety on Facebook
Ross
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:08 p.m.
Shame on me, I guess, outdoor. I was not properly aware that she was fully in the pocket of big agriculture. So, yes, I voted for her, and now, I never will again.
outdoor6709
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 8:18 p.m.
I find it strange, the very people who supported Stabenhow in her reelection bid, now think she is wrong on this issue.
Basic Bob
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:37 p.m.
A non-radical idea that "might" require arbitrary labeling for every food produced and sold in the United States, on a state-by-state basis? That sounds like a bureaucratic nightmare and a sure way to drive up the cost of both food and government. Stabenow voted correctly.
Nicholas Urfe
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:28 p.m.
GMO modifications to food are unregulated and untested. They can do whatever they want. And they don't have to label anything. Your kid's lemonade stand, or the deck on the back of your house, will have more oversight and regulation than an experimental new vegetable with a built in insecticide. Such is the power of the mega corporations.
ManA2
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 12:46 a.m.
Just out of curiosity Ross, since you claim there is no transparency, how is it that you are so certain that what they are doing is evil? I like the idea of more food to feed people who don't have enough to eat. For what it is worth, I have no problem with labeling, but it is the tone that all of this is some sort of evil plot to poison us that is very hard to take.
Ross
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:07 p.m.
ManA2, you don't get it. They are splicing in insecticides and herbicide resistance. It is NOT akin to natural selection and evolution, just sped up. It is innately UN-NATURAL. The situation might be different if Monsanto and the FDA were more transparent about the situation. But under the guise of "intellectual property", Monsanto is doing everything in secret, and then feeding it to you. You have no idea what you are actually eating. Sure, it still looks like corn.... but? We just demand labeling, to start. We deserve that.
OLDTIMER3
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 4:56 p.m.
Check the nutritional value of a bushel GMOs and older non GMOs and see the difference. The GMOs food value is lower in these new foods. There was an article in the paper not too long ago discussing this fact.
ManA2
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:51 p.m.
So to be clear, you are against any human directed genetic modification of any organism or directed involvement by humans in altering the gene pool?
Nicholas Urfe
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:14 p.m.
@ManA2: It is extremely disingenuous to suggest GMO crops are merely natural selection. GMO foods are not merely selection, natural or otherwise. It isn't evolution. It is artificially splicing genes that would never occur in nature. Not in a billion years. The word "evolution" doesn't mean what you think it means.
ManA2
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:06 p.m.
Actually Laura, the only difference is people looking for advantageous traits and speeding up natural selection. People have been doing that for a very long time. Do you acknowledge that not doing that would likely condemn millions of people in the world to malnourishment?
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
Don't be specious. There is a HUGE difference between genetic engineering and natural selection evolution.
ManA2
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:31 p.m.
It is also unregulated and untested in nature. Finding desirable traits in plants and animals and then selecting for those traits has been going on for thousands of years. It's called evolution. There is some guy named Darwin doing some interesting work in this arena.
outdoor6709
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.
GMO's have been around for long enough that there should be studies to support the theory that GMO's are bad for people's health. Where is the scientific proof, or is this just another anarchist good, corporation bad story?
Robert Honeyman
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
monsanto's early claims were dramatic increase in yield and dramatic reduction in pesticides. 20 years (or so) after the introduction of gmo into the food chain, studies show little if any improvement in yield and little if any reduction in need for pesticides. the big change is cost of seedstock. it's quadrupled (don't have a link off hand but google gmo yield). as far as health: there are some possibly disturbing indications coming out of new studies of gmo corn. nothing is certain at this point. me? i'm avoiding corn as much as i can since the vast majority of u.s. corn is gmo based.
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:29 p.m.
Monsanto bans the use of their products in scientific studies they don't own. Since they own the product, they can do this. So they do. Makes you wonder.
Odile Haber
Sun, May 26, 2013 : noon
"Organizers said "March Against Monsanto" protests were held in 52 countries and 436 cities, including Los Angeles where demonstrators waved signs that read "Real Food 4 Real People" and "Label GMOs, It's Our Right to Know." Genetically modified plants are grown from seeds that are engineered to resist insecticides and herbicides, add nutritional benefits or otherwise improve crop yields and increase the global food supply. Most corn, soybean and cotton crops grown in the United States today have been genetically modified. But critics say genetically modified organisms can lead to serious health conditions and harm the environment. " It is time that people awaken from the damage corporations so to our health, to the animals and the planet for super profit. People need to know, pay attention and change practices.
outdoor6709
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:40 a.m.
Make your own decision but you should read an article by Mr. Paarlberg a professor of political science at Wellesley College and the author of "Food Politics: What Everyone Needs to Know" (Oxford, 2010). http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324105204578380872639718046.html
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:27 p.m.
Nice opinion, no discussion of the science, not worth much without that.
The Saint
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:24 a.m.
Here's a thought... If these foods are "Safe", as Monsanto is claiming they are, why not label them as these people are asking them to do? If they are "good for you" foods, then Monsanto should be PROUD to label them. ...just food for thought...so to speak.
Chris
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:42 p.m.
The hippies would get confused. "GMO label good, organic bad? ughh which one is it again? Which produce is genetically suited to provide my daily requirement of aflatoxin?"
Ross
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:02 p.m.
This very fact, which is clearly self evident, should be enough of a wake up call to anyone who reads it to dislike Monsanto and avoid GMOs from then on. Too bad it isn't, and people just don't care. sad.
simone66
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:01 p.m.
That's just it, Monsanto thrives on the public's ignorance of GMOs, to point out that their food product is in anyway 'different' from organic, would give the consumer the power to decide not to buy a GMO product. When I first started paying attention to the GMO issue, I wondered if Monsanto was so proud of their food then why not label it. To label a GMO food would in fact ruin Monsanto because most people would avoid it. They are scared of an educated consumer, and they love the consumer who is indifferent and, unfortunately, ignorant about GMOs.
FormerMichRes
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 7:15 a.m.
Too bad they aren't protesting against all the street people and panhandlers in A2. More hazardous to ones health, I'd guess.
Ross
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11 p.m.
You are bad at guessing.
mtlaurel
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 5:33 a.m.
what do people consider 'safe" about GMO's.....the fact that you won't die.....just get sick. thanks anyway, The bill recently in congress was about labelling-that would have been fair if they are going to cram this stuff in everything on the grocery shelves.....for those that don't care,fine-but the right to see this information should have been allowed.
Basic Bob
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:29 p.m.
@GLL, Many "farmers of the state" supported her vote. They are people, too.
Great Lakes Lady
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.
Debbie Stabenow voted WITH Monsanto and against the people of this state who want to know what's in the food they're buying.
Urban Sombrero
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:50 a.m.
One thing I want to know about Monsanto is why do they have so much power? Why can they dictate what people, who live near Monsanto growing fields can grow on their OWN land in their OWN gardens? My brother and Sister-in-Law live across the street from a Monsanto corn field. They are legally restricted from growing corn, on their own land. How is that acceptable? What gives Monsanto the right to dictate what people can and cannot grow in their own gardens? It's ridiculous! If they're so worried about cross pollination, buy the surrounding land and make sure there are NO residential areas surrounding their fields. Period. Instead, they infringe on the rights of property owners. I won't get in to their GMO's and all that, but this is something that really sticks in my craw and leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
Urban Sombrero
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 6:46 p.m.
@A2citizen, Clinton.
a2citizen
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 4:19 p.m.
Where does your brother live?
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:23 p.m.
Expensive lobbying is how they do it. They have bought and paid for special laws regarding themselves and their crops. Wonder why? How about their latest law which removes ANY PRODUCT LIABILITY from them for damage done to people by their crops. Only for Monsanto. Now why would a company do that if their product is so safe? I know why Congress did it, and they should all be fired. Sorry, I'm no whacko fringe protester, just a mild Republican business owner, and these laws and this business are highly suspect. If it quacks like a duck - shoot it.
GoNavy
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:05 a.m.
How much surrounding land should they buy? Unless they buy the entire United States, won't Monsanto always have neighbors?
beardown
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:06 a.m.
Yawn. With all the things that our government is doing, from wars to whatever, this is what they protest? And they lack the stones to actually show their faces? Are they just worries that a hedge fund that gets money from Monsanto won't hire them? This would be story when a.) they protest something worth while and b.) they get the backbone to show their faces. Until then, they are mindless cause-ite college students who didn't have anything to do until the Red Wings game.
Ross
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11 p.m.
seriously? You think ALL the protesters covered their faces? That was a dozen out of hundreds.
sh1
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:30 p.m.
What did you do during the afternoon that was so worthwhile?
Andrew
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 6:29 a.m.
Indeed. I think people just want to jump on the occupy bandwagon.
G. Orwell
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:29 a.m.
GMOs HAVE been proven to be hazardous to your health. For example, BT corn produces its own pesticide. Insects won't eat it but it is in our food chain. Don't forget, Monsanto was the producer of Agent Orange. If people want to know the dangers of GMOs, watch "Genetic Roulette."
Chris
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 7:25 p.m.
Don't worry about it. Just because you've read that it produces a "pesticide" doesn't mean it's unsafe for consumption. These types of crops are modified to produce an additional protein(s), which are highly selective towards specific insects. By no means is it anything like spraying Raid into your mouth each day.
G. Orwell
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:43 p.m.
@Andrew, Do you have no logic. Insects won't eat it because BT corn produces its own pesticide BUT, they are feeding it to you. Why don't you spray some Raid in your mouth each day. That will do amazing things for your health.
Andrew
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 6:27 a.m.
"Insects won't eat it".... Isn't that the point?
beardown
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:09 a.m.
Our water system is just as bad. As is our air. As are preservatives in our food.
Andy T
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:40 a.m.
We ran in to this group as we were walking out of Five Guys. Awkward.
mtlaurel
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 5:10 a.m.
you ran into them after your meal at five guys..... hard to "steer" yourselves after burger lunch ?
Darth Pablo
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:59 a.m.
We're not gonna protest!!!
ManA2
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:55 a.m.
Local produce is great when possible. But banning GMO's would starve millions of poor people around the world. Let science drive decisions, not emotions
Robert Honeyman
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.
when a farmer purchases his first seedstock from monsanto, he signs an agreement that allows monsanto to audit future production by that farmer. if any of the future crops contain any of monsanto's patented markers, the farmer is required to pay monsanto for that year's seedstock, whether the farmer used monsanto seeds or non-gmo seeds. as i understand it, once a field has been exposed to gmo seed, it's almost impossible to completely rid the field of gmo strays. thus, monsanto only has to sell once to ensure a long-term repeating revenue stream. there's something very wrong with that picture, in my mind.
average joe
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:25 p.m.
That is, if you don't purchase new seed and 'save ' some of the grain to replant ...
average joe
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:23 p.m.
Navy- Actually, you are not 'required' to purchase new seed every year, but if you do you are required to pay a 'tech' or patent fee to monsanto.
GoNavy
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:03 a.m.
@sh1 & BasicBob: Both of you are off. Monsanto's seeds, such as their "Roundup Ready" soybeans, have no problem reproducing. However, due to the patented nature of the genetic modifications, farmers are required to buy new seeds every year regardless. There was just a Supreme Court decision affirming this.
ManA2
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 4:13 a.m.
Sh1 - Basic Bob is correct. Emotion is overcoming science with these protestors.
Basic Bob
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:45 a.m.
"farmers have to buy new seed every year" Urban legend. All commercially available GMO plants produce viable seeds. It is just easier for most farmers in developed countries to buy their seed. They don't end up with accidental hybrids.
sh1
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:39 a.m.
I don't think it's so black and white. Monsanto sells third-world countries seeds that grow plants that can't make viable seeds, so farmers have to buy new seed every year instead of saving their own. That doesn't sound to me like Monsanto is out to end starvation.
Dog Guy
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:18 a.m.
"Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Ann Arbor Saturday to protest" or, possibly, a dozen protesters walked through hundreds of people out and about on a sunny Saturday.
cb
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 3:38 a.m.
No, there were probably nearly 1,000 people participating and some decided to march along and cheered us on. The marchers were mostly calm and considerate.
simone66
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:53 p.m.
Sorry to disappoint Dog Guy, but there were at least 600 people, and at most nearly 1000, I know because I was there. I saw the media there and they took a lot of pictures, although the front of the line image with the 'anonymous' people provides great fodder, it does hide a nearly three block long line of protestors. I have more pictures that I took here : http://factcommunity.org/entries/activism/untitled-post
sh1
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:38 a.m.
I was downtown. It was a big crowd. Nice try, though.
Tom Joad
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:07 a.m.
7 billion people on the planet and climbing. Give up beef which is decimating the planet. Livestock numbering in the low billions pump out more methane than any natural source and methane a powerful greenhouse gas, much more so than CO2. Meet production also requires a stupendous amount of feed like corn. Millions of acres of rain forest are being cut to raise cattle and feed. The trajectory of the planet with climate change is not looking good. Meat consumption is one of the biggest threats to long-term sustainability. As wages rise so does meat consumption further fueling the rapacious plundering of the ecosystem.
grimmk
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 10:13 a.m.
So stop eating meat which is what enabled us to change ourselves to become the dominate species on the planet? Smart.
Basic Bob
Mon, May 27, 2013 : 2:23 a.m.
All these people complaining about the world population are unwilling to do their part to reduce it.
Homeland Conspiracy
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 6:22 p.m.
Thank you both. No one wants to talk about over population any more. There are just to many of us on this planet. The population increase can be traced back to oil...so as soon (or if) we run out the population will drop back to where the planet can take it. Until then stop breeding
Steve Bean
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 11:53 a.m.
Population growth is a factor of food production primarily. It's climbing not because of other factors, but because we are producing more food. If less food were produced it wouldn't grow as much (if at all) or as rapidly. Daniel Quinn wrote eloquently about this in his books. He also noted that the "starving masses" don't exist. Yes there are times and places when people starve, but they're the exception. More importantly, growing more food doesn't prevent starvation, it only increases the population, perhaps thereby increasing the odds that some number of people somewhere in the world are starving.
Davidian
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 10:52 a.m.
Lesson? Don't have kids if you can't afford them.
Ross
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:12 p.m.
Sorry I missed it! Would have liked my support for what should be our collective opposition to Monsanto. Our bodies and earth should not be an experiment for their genetic tinkering and monopolistic control of agriculture. Instead of attending the rally today, we planted a garden full of organic, heirloom tomatos and other vegetables. Vote with your wallet, and don't buy GMO franken-foods.
Ross
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 10:56 p.m.
Thanks, Laura. Tano, read her comment. You obviously haven't bothered to ever research what's in your food, so no point explaining. Martini, I'm primarily worried about myself and my family, but thanks.
Laura Jones
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
@Tano = there is a difference between genetically engineered and genetically hybridized! Your comment is like comparing human evolution and cloning. Not even close. The Genetically engineered crop is designed to be Roundup herbicide resistant and contains a chemical additive that explodes the stomachs of insects. That is a FAR cry from hybridized gene splicing. Seems reasonable to me to want to decide what you and your children ingest. Moreover, several nations are now outright banning the use of these crops for health reasons. Many mainstream folks do not want them.
Great Lakes Lady
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:18 p.m.
Ross: Where did you find heirloom tomato seedlings? They were "sold out' wherever I looked this week.
martini man
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:49 p.m.
Oh Ross ,,,thank you sooo very much for your part in saving the world from itself !!!
Tano
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:41 p.m.
Sorry to break it to you, but your "heirloom" tomatoes have been massively genetically modified from wild tomato, although using an older technology.
Brad
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:02 p.m.
Packard Street intersects with Division. Packard Road starts at the intersection with Stone School Road, miles away. The original article on the march had the same error.
Cindy Heflin
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 4:56 a.m.
We've fixed that. Thanks.
demistify
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:50 p.m.
Maybe not in the alternative universe that the demonstrators live in.
Angry Moderate
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 10:56 p.m.
"'I'm carrying this sign to get attention'" And no one was surprised.
David Cahill
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 10:54 p.m.
Hm.. Why are so many of the demonstrators wearing the famous Guy Fawkes mask? Doing so brands folks as extremists of one stripe or another. I thought the people opposing GM food were supposed to be mainstream. Am I missing something here?
cb
Tue, May 28, 2013 : 3:32 a.m.
Mainly because they are young adults. Most of the marchers were quite tame and had their children in tow.
Arborcomment
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 5:42 p.m.
Great MOVIE Teddy. Very entertaining MOVIE Teddy. Yesterday there was a Star Wars Parade in Indy, another great MOVIE Teddy...
Teddy Haarz
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 4:07 p.m.
Yes, you are missing something. The mask is used in protests to show a sense of unity...if you ever saw V for Vendetta, you'd remember that at the end, all of London marched on Parliament Square wearing the masks as a show of unity in defiance...and as a way to protect themselves against the jackboot methods of the Government portrayed in the film...not far off from the jackboot methods of our own government.
timjbd
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 3:43 p.m.
Are you saying they're imagining it? http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/12/nyregion/occupy-wall-street-protesters-complain-of-police-monitoring.html http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/police-surveillance-of-this-kind-undermines-our-democracy-judges-rule-that-action-against-peaceful-protester-john-catt-was-unlawful-8534345.html http://www.nyclu.org/issues/freedom-of-speech-and-religion/protest-new-york-city http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/constitution/item/15505-homeland-security-police-monitored-tea-party-irs-protests http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Banks-cooperate-to-track-Occupy-protesters-3513838.php http://rt.com/usa/boston-police-protest-aclu-757/
Arborcomment
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 2:18 p.m.
Correct Tim. The food police are everywhere.
timjbd
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 1:58 p.m.
The wearing of masks gives one a tiny bit of privacy from the constant surveillance. The FBI and police forces regularly photograph crowds of protestors, now, and catalogue ALL attendees. You can decide for yourself whether you want your name on those lists and for what they'll one day be used.
northside
Sun, May 26, 2013 : 12:26 p.m.
@ David: The article mentions "hundreds of people" at the protest and the photo shows a small group (seven, to be exact) with the masks. I didn't attend this demo, but have been to more than I can count where the newspaper photo featured the small number with the "extremist" appearance, and ignored the majority who looked "normal." I'll offer two thoughts as to why this type of coverage happens so often. One is that newspapers need our attention, and the photo with the small number of people in the mask gets it. A wide-angle photo showing hundreds of people, most of them dressed "normally," does not. Second, newspapers are businesses that primarily depend on ad revenue. They have a built-in financial to discredit movements that question business interests. This photo allows many people to just dismiss the demonstration as one of extremists.
martini man
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:50 p.m.
Mainstream in the wacko community ..but not so much in the real world.
demistify
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 11:48 p.m.
This caper is about as mainstream as the mischievous hackers who has popularized that mask.
Angry Moderate
Sat, May 25, 2013 : 10:57 p.m.
They don't know who Guy Fawkes is, they just thought the masks were cool after they saw them at Occupy Wall Street (who in turn thought they were cool after they saw them at the Scientology protests a decade ago).