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MacArthur’s Restaurant hosts First Responders’ Fish Fry,
Vol. 34 No. 27
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July 1, 2020
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austinweeklynews.com
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Also serving Garfield Park
@AustinWeeklyChi
PAGE 6
@AustinWeeklyNews
Stray thoughts on a potent week, PAGE 6
Black workers say Cicero bakery unsafe Black Workers Matter says Bimbo, employer of many West Siders, has not adequately protected them against COVID-19 By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter
The Black Workers Matter advocacy organization is accusing a Cicero bakery operated by Bimbo Bakeries USA — the U.S. arm of Grupo Bimbo, a Mexico Coy-based manufacturing company — of endangering the safety of its workforce, much of which comes from Austin and North Lawndale. The group also alleges that the racist practices under the plant’s previous owner, Aryzta LLC, still persist. The Cicero plant, which is located at 1540 S. 54th Ave., makes Entenmann brand “Mini-Bite” muffins found in many West Side supermarkets and convenience stores. As a food producer, it was considered an essential business under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s stay-at-home order and was allowed to stay open. But while the company announced that it was taking precautions, two workers have passed away and two additional workers were allegedly fired for publicly sharing concerns about health conditions. On the afternoon of June 18, Black Workers Matter organized a press conference in front of the plant, demanding that the company slow down production speed to allow for better social distancing. And they argued that Bimbo Bakeries hasn’t done nearly enough to root out the plant’s culture of racism. They also said that the plant’s leadership should better reflect the demographics of its workforce. Arysta LLC previously owned the Cicero plant and the Galewood plant at 2035 N. Narragansett See BLACK WORKERS on page 5
ALEX ROGALS/Staff Photographer
GIVING BACK: Each week, London Black, an Austin native, organizes a personal care and toiletry products giveaway outside of Taco Bros restaurant on the corner of Chicago Avenue and Austin Boulevard. Read more on page 2.
After children killed, leaders debate police defunding
Both sides say there must be more funding for jobs, schools and mental health in disinvested neighborhoods to stop violence By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago
As the national debate about policing continues, family and neighbors mourned two children fatally shot on the West Side on June 22 — while local leaders sought explanations for one of
the bloodiest weekends in recent history. More than 100 people were shot over Father’s Day weekend, according to police figures. Eleven people were killed, including a toddler and four teenagers. The wave of violence fell especially hard on the West Side, where 3-year-old Mekhi James was shot in his back and killed in South Austin while riding in the car with his father last Saturday evening. Two hours later and less than 2 miles away, three teens were shot in the 1000 block of North Leclaire Avenue. Two survived while Amaria Jones, 13, was hit in her neck inside her home and died. See DEFUNDING DEBATE on page 9
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