In the DC Metro system one sees ads done by many different groups. From defense contractors advertising at the Pentagon Metro station to the American Medical Association (who used to oppose universal healthcare) now calling for universal health coverage of some sort. Sometimes you even see good organizations championing their causes in this case, Smithfield Justice.

Advertising on the DC Metro is a great way to get your message out there to the masses. Which is why it’s not surprising that groups do this. Not too long ago I even remember seeing ads at the Metro Center station paid for by CWA Local 14201 talking about the Washington Post and some of the injustices they perpetrate. This morning however as I was exiting one train and going up the escalators to transfer to the next train; I was pleasantly surprised to see a banner paid for by none other than Smithfield Justice.

Smithfield Justice is a project of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. On the ad, in bright yellow letters, we are informed that managers at a Smithfield plant called African American workers the “N’ word. They also beat people. We are also urged to not buy Smithfield products. In 1997, when workers at the Tar Heel, NC plant tried to unionize they were threatened and intimidated. On the Smithfiled Justice site we also learn that “Smithfield Foods is the largest pork producer and processor in the world, the fourth largest turkey processor and fifth largest beef processor in the U.S.” It is headquartered in the town of Smithfield, Virginia, but its operations stretch across the United States, Mexico, and much of Europe.”

With all the money they are making you would think they would not treat their workers this way, but sadly with many corporations the opposite is often true. It’s good to see Smithfield Justice taking to the Metro and I hope they escalate the campaign in this politically minded city of ours.

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