Twenty one people were arrested outside a REI store in Rockville after protesting the chain’s policies on international workers’ rights.
A Rockville police spokesperson said those arrested were charged with disorderly conduct. The protest involved college students, according to the United Students Against Sweatshops.
The group is demanding that REI cease dealing with The North Face and its parent company, VF Corporation, a clothing manufacturer. The students want The North Face to sign an agreement to improve working conditions for garment manufacturers in Bangladesh.
A release from USAS said a fire last month in a North Face/VF factory injured several workers.
