Romeo Ramirez

Romeo Ramirez is a farmworker and member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW), a membership-led organization of mostly Latino, Haitian and Mayan Indian low-wage immigrant workers based in Southwest Florida that struggles for fair wages, dignity, and respect. At the age of 15, Romeo migrated from Guatemala to Florida to work in the fields. He became active with the CIW almost immediately and has been a leader with the organization for 11 years. Romeo was awarded the 2003 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Human Rights award for his work undercover to investigate a slavery operation involving more than 700 workers in the Florida citrus fields. Overall, the CIW has assisted the U.S. Department of Justice in uncovering, investigating and successfully prosecuting six modern-day slavery rings, freeing over 1,000 workers. Romeo is an active participant and DJ in the CIW's Low Power FM radio station, "Radio Conciencia" -- an important communication and organizing tool in Immokalee. He has also worked with community radio stations across the country and in other countries to share and learn skills, and to keep them updated about the CIW's Campaign for Fair Food.