These and other cases of slavery reported by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) are one part of a larger context of labor rights abuses occurring in agriculture in the U.S.  You can click here for lots of information about similar cases and CIW's anti-slavery campaign. 

CIW member Gerardo Reyes said, "The facts that have been reported in this case are beyond
outrageous
- workers being beaten, tied to posts, and chained and
locked into trucks to prevent them from leaving their boss... How many more workers have to be
held against their will before the food industry steps up to the plate
and demands that this never - ever - occur again in the produce that
ends up on America's tables?"

CIW supporter Senator Bernie Sanders said,

"I think most Americans would find it hard to believe that people in our
country are pleading guilty to slavery charges in the year 2008, but
that is what is going on in the tomato fields of Florida. And, of
course, this is not the first case. It is the sixth successful slavery
prosecution which has resulted in the freeing of about 1,000 workers.

"While slavery is, of course, the most extreme situation in the tomato
fields, the truth is that the average worker there is being ruthlessly
exploited. Tomato pickers perform backbreaking work, make very low
wages, have no benefits and virtually no labor protections."

CIW has been remarkably successful in getting major corporations like Taco Bell, McDonald's and Burger King to agree to their campaign demands.  Now they are focusing on companies like Chipotle and Whole Foods. CLICK HERE to get involved and take action in solidarity with these workers. If you are a student, check out the work that the Student Farmworker Alliance is doing to support CIW.