Youth, parents, and educators tell McDonald’s to Stop McTeacher’s Nights!
Youth, parents, and educators tell McDonald’s to Stop McTeacher’s Nights!
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
David Monahan
On May 24, advocacy groups, teachers, parents, and youth gathered at the huge “Rock n Roll” McDonald’s in downtown Chicago to loudly demand: Stop McTeacher’s Nights! The rally was held just two days before the McDonald’s Annual Shareholder meeting and a short drive from the company’s headquarters. The speeches, signs, and protest chants revolved around one theme: McDonald’s should not target kids and capitalize on student-teacher relationships with junk food “fundraisers” that return little to schools. A group of young students from Chicago’s Academy for Global Citizenship gave an inspiring presentation, asking McDonald’s to stay out of schools and stop encouraging unhealthy habits. Thanks to our partners at Corporate Accountability International (CAI), who organized the rally.
Later that day, CCFC and CAI representatives visited McDonald’s headquarters in Oak Brook, IL to deliver a petition signed by 30,000 people asking McDonald’s to put an end to McTeacher’s Nights. The petition was hosted by CCFC, CAI, the Center for a New American Dream, the National Education Association, Public Citizen/Commercial Alert, and the Story of Stuff. The rally and petition delivery were part of a series of actions timed to coincide with the Shareholder Meeting and pressure the company to stop marketing junk food in schools, as well as change its marketing, labor, and environmental practices. Our coalition will continue to deliver the message in the weeks and months ahead, until McDonald’s finally stops holding McTeacher’s Nights!
Read more: http://www.commercialfreechildhood.org/blog/youth-parents-and-educators-tell-mcdonald’s-stop-mcteacher’s-nights