Pork Producers Ask Court for Help

April 10, 2001

The Michigan Pork Producers Association and the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) have asked a Michigan court that is hearing the legal challenge to their settlement with USDA to enter an injunction against future trespassing and harassment. The action was taken in the wake of a March 26 occupation of NPPC's Washington, DC, offices.

Leading the office occupation, the MPPA and NPPC said, was the Campaign for Family Farms and their member organizations including the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement. During the occupation, which lasted until police arrived, members of the Campaign for Family Farms aided by urban activists from the National People's Action, "engaged in loud and abusive behavior, used NPPC's fax machine to send out defamatory materials, defaced NPPC's property, invaded personal offices of NPPC employees, and physically accosted two NPPC employees," according to MPPA and NPPC.

"We were reluctant to take this step but feel the activists' actions forced us to seek this injunction. They have chosen to escalate their actions to harassment, attempted obstruction of justice and intimidation," said NPPC President Barb Determan. "What was once a battle over the future of the checkoff, has become a genuine concern for the safety of our staff and the potential for further vandalism of NPPC property from the Campaign for Family Farms. This step was not taken lightly. We asked the court to get involved only after efforts to resolve the matter informally were unsuccessful."

Determan, of Early, IA, added, "Over the last few years NPPC producer leaders have attempted to sit down and talk with members of the Campaign for Family Farms. One such meeting in NPPC's Des Moines office turned into a shouting match led by the activists, another into a media frenzy fed by a demonstration orchestrated by the activists, and the latest into an all out rampage against NPPC staff and property. Furthermore, during the latest incident, the Campaign for Family Farms vowed to return to continue their harassment. Is the Campaign for Family Farms really concerned about the future of pork producers, or about how they can generate more publicity through media stunts?"