Protesters ‘Storm' NPPC Washington Office

March 28, 2001

A group of about 100 protesters "stormed" the Washington office of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Monday morning. "It appeared that most of the protesters were not pork producers. The protesters refused to sit down and talk reasonably about their concerns. The protesters interrupted work being done on behalf of America's pork producers by NPPC staff," NPPC said in a statement.

"The protesters had physical confrontation with NPPC staff, vandalized the office and office equipment, and took control of the NPPC fax machine to send numerous faxes of misleading propaganda to NPPC audiences," the statement continued.

"How can such a dangerous and damaging attack in the NPPC office further anyone's cause?" asked NPPC president, Barb Determan. "In today's society, 100 protestors storming an office is not a simple protest, but a major security threat to our staff. I think this protest is an injustice to pork producers everywhere and should cause great concern for the safety of those working on our behalf."

"Despite these unfortunate actions by a small, lawbreaking minority, NPPC intends to continue its work on behalf of America's pork producers. NPPC receives its direction from the nation's pork producers through a democratic process. NPPC plans to continue its efforts to create new opportunities that benefit all pork producers," the NPPC statement said.

"In an attempt of ‘good faith' we tolerated inappropriate behavior by activists for years," said Determan, an Early, IA, pork producer. "We thought we could tell the truth and pork producers would listen to us. But as of today, the protestors have taken their actions too far. Not only are they ridiculing and defaming the character of NPPC's CEO Al Tank, their actions today have threatened the NPPC staff. How can they be doing all of this in the name of the pork checkoff?"

NPPC said the protesters included members of the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, Minnesota Land Stewardship Project, and the Illinois Stewardship Alliance. "All of these groups are part of the National People's Action, an umbrella coalition which lists as its priorities school violence, quality wages and training for American workers and predatory lending," NPPC said.

"The protestors are trying to personalize the checkoff issue, ridicule people, create confusion and worst of all, suggest that their allegations and falsehoods are fact," said Determan. "As a pork producer, I have had enough. We are going to stand strong against this attack and focus on the future of the pork checkoff."

NPPC supports the settlement agreement announced Feb. 28 by USDA. As a result of the settlement agreement, the mandatory pork checkoff will continue. "The checkoff will continue to be invested in programs that will promote pork, educate consumers and producers, and address critical research priorities for pork producers of all sizes and geographic locations. As a result of this settlement brought forth by USDA, checkoff-funded programs will continue to benefit pork producers," NPPC added.