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Blog on Meat Plant Was Astroturf, Not Grassroots

Shown is the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2008, in Postville, Iowa. Agriprocessors is the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant and Postville's biggest employer. A May 12, 2008 raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Agriprocessors, the world's largest kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa, was the largest immigration raid in U.S. history. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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Blog on Meat Plant Was Astroturf, Not Grassroots

By KCRG Intern

Story Created: Oct 4, 2008 at 8:26 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 4, 2008 at 8:26 PM CST

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - As Agriprocessors Inc. was getting stung by criticism after a federal immigration raid snared hundreds of its workers, a blog supposedly by people who live and work in Postville appeared in its defense.

The blog defended the hiring practices of the northeast Iowa plan. And, it rebutted allegations in a federal affidavit and railed against the media, government and a labor union.

It was grassroots activism at its finest. But that's only if you think the son of the plant CEO at the time - and two of his friends - count as grassroots activists.

The anonymous blog was an odd twist in the case against Agriprocessors, which has expanded to include child labor and wage violations.

It was also an example of an increasingly common practice known as astroturfing - inventing grassroots support without the trouble of engaging a community.

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