Lobby Against Monsanto Protection Act and March to State Capitol

SACRAMENTO CAPITOL PROTEST AGAINST MONSANTO WEDNESDAY; MONSANTO'S DAVIS FACILITY IS TARGETED FOR THIRD 'SHUTDOWN' FRIDAY, PART OF WORLDWIDE ACTIONS in 250 CITIES

SACRAMENTO, Ca – Environmental, Occupy and social justice activists are targeting Monsanto in a series of demonstrations and action at the Capitol, Davis, and across the country and planet, this week. Currently, marches are being planned on six continents, in 36 countries, and more than 250 cities.

In Sacramento, activists will hold a rally and PRESS BRIEFING to release a "White Paper" on Monsanto WEDNESDAY, May 22, at 10:15 at the Department of Food and Agriculture (1220 N Street). A march will be held at 11 a.m. to the State Capitol to lobby against Monsanto.

Friday, protestors say they will "shut down" the Monsanto facility in Davis.

Protesters will urge the governor and attorney general to issue a statement in regards to the Supreme Court ruling of Vernon H. Bowman v. Monsanto Co. that legally protects patenting of genetically modified seeds that could adversely affect California small farmers. They will present a set of resolutions to address the bill rider, agricultural issues and the uncertainty of human health risks of GE foods.

The Anti Monsanto Project also seeks to gain support from state legislators for the federal food-labeling bill proposed by Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. Peter DeFazio’s (D-Ore.) to mandate the Food and Drug Administration to require food manufacturers to label products with ingredients manufactured or grown from genetically engineered seeds.

The legislation comes in response to 90 percent of surveyed people in the U.S. that want labels on GE food. The proposed legislation is more inclusive than the Prop 37 bill, which would apply to the meat and dairy industries to also label poultry, meats and fish.

Also, activists want former Monsanto executives out of government positions and for unjust protections to stop. In March, H.R. 733 contained a bill rider, known as the Monsanto Protection Act that allows genetically modified seeds to be planted prior to USDA review.

The provisional bill rider passed through the Senate, House and President Obama that allows farmers to continue planting GE crops until the USDA can assess its environmental impact. The bill rider is set to expire at the end of the fiscal year onSeptember 30, but if there is not a new bill proposed then the bill will be extended, keeping the provision in place.

The Anti Monsanto Project includes activists from local Occupy groups, SEIU Justice for Janitors, Stockton’s Organización de Trabajadores Agrícolas, the Peace and Freedom Party of Yolo and Placer Counties and more.