Grand Valley State University’s Student Environmental Coalition (SEC) will take to the streets of Grand Rapids Sunday during the “Millions Against Monsanto” protest.

“Monsanto is the world’s largest seed company in charge of a large majority of our food, which contains genetically modified organisms,” said Vince Panozzo, president of the SEC. “Monsanto claims to be a sustainable company, yet their practices paint an uglier picture. They continue to destroy bio-diversity and ruin the lives of countless farmers.”

Though Millions Against Monsanto is a nationwide effort, SEC member Gwen Gell spearheaded the process of bringing the initiative to West Michigan.

Panozzo said the major goal behind the campaign is to put pressure on Congress to pass a bill that will require by law that any food which may contain genetically modified organisms, or meat which comes from concentrated animal feeding operation farms, be labeled.

At the march, the SEC will be petitioning for signatures to support the passing of the bill.

“This march is also to show solidarity with everybody who is affected by this — farmers, families, children, students, animals, those with adverse health problems, environmentalists, animal-loving people,” Panozzo said. “Really everybody, because everybody is affected by it. Everybody from professors to students, from farmers at the farmer’s market to those who are Occupy-ing Grand Rapids, we definitely have strong support for this event.”

The SEC will meet on GVSU’s Pew Campus on Sunday, which is also World Food Day, at 1 p.m. to begin the march. From there, protesters will march to Grand Rapids City Hall, where there will be open slam poetry.

To learn more about Millions Against Monsanto, or to join the SEC’s initiative, visit its event page on Facebook by typing “Millions Against Monsanto, Grand Rapids” into the search bar.

[email protected]