Students target the north face and REI.

• Author: Mason, Jessica
• Position: ON THE LINE - Brief article

Nearly two dozen people were arrested during a demonstration against sweatshops at an REI store near Washington, D.C., on July 26, one of more than thirty rallies across the United States that day.

The protest, organized by United Students Against Sweatshops, was intended to put pressure on the outdoor recreation store for continuing to carry goods produced by clothing manufacturer The North Face.

The students are protesting the fact that The North Face has declined to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, an agreement which would require companies to contribute up to $500,000 per year for safety improvements in garment factories and to conduct independent safety inspections.

More than 170 brands and retailers have signed on to the accord, which was created after a series of...