ST. PAUL, Minn. -- About 2,500 Minnesota farmers, singing 'We Shall Overcome,' rallied in a chilly drizzle in front of the state capitol and demanded a moratorium on farm, home and rural business foreclosures.
The farmers arrived Tuesday in a caravan of more than 100 vehicles, including 76 tractors.
Four pallbearers carried a flag-draped wooden casket with a sign that said 'Don't Bury Rural America' up the stairs to the capitol.
An oil company and farm equipment dealers donated fuel for farmers to drive their tractors to the rally, said Jim Langman, a Starbuck farmer. He said 10 people were passing the hat in the crowd for money to drive the tractors home.
Larry Haukos of Cornell, who walked 180 miles from his home to St. Paul, said farmers must 'prod the government and if necessary change it.'
Farmers ended the rally by singing 'We Shall Overcome' and signing a petition to the governor asking for help.
The rally was similar to a demonstration a year ago that attracted more than 10,000 supporters. A farm leader said the crowd was down this year because many farmers could not afford the trip.
Norman Larson, co-chairman of the Minnesota Groundswell organization, demanded a special session of the Legislature to deal with the farm crisis. He appealed for a moratorium on farm foreclosures.
'How dare our government turn a deaf ear to our cries of help,' said Bobbi Polzine, the other co-chair of Groundswell.
Minnesota House and Senate committees, preparing for the 1986 regular session beginning Feb. 3, are considering a variety of bills to help the rural economy.