Group Plans Protest At The Gap Opening

Activists protesting The Gap’s alleged sweatshop abuses say they will protest in front of River Park Square when the new downtown development opens Friday.

As many as 20 people will be handing out leaflets detailing the company’s human rights record, said Rusty Nelson, of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane.

“We are just hoping to raise awareness and make a connection between sweatshops and corporate impunity that consumers sometimes allow,” Nelson said. PJALS is not asking for a boycott, Nelson said.

The group had also planned to target Nordstrom, but the department store recently settled a federal class-action lawsuit concerning abuses in Saipan, a U.S. territory.

The settlement provides that Nordstrom, along with J.Crew, Gymboree and Cutter & Buck, will pay for independent observers to monitor working conditions.

“We’re going to take accountability for anything our name is attached to,” said Pete Nordstrom, who was in Spokane Monday. “We’re not going to run away from that.”