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Signature gatherers hoping to qualify an initiative that would require the labeling of food containing genetically modified organisms have reported confrontations with the managers of local Safeway supermarkets.

Chicoan Pamm Larry, who’s been traveling the state to organize the effort, said a local organizer reported last month that the manager of the East Avenue Safeway “blasted her, was very rude and told her if she were seen anywhere near the store he would call the police.”

That was after Amanda Bosschart had filled out permission forms and received the go-ahead from the manager to place volunteer signature-gatherers in front of the store for the next 18 days.

But on the first day, seven hours into the effort, an assistant manager approached a volunteer named Marirose Dunbar and said she had to go, that she wasn’t allowed to be there.

“We had applied and they gave us approval, but all of a sudden the manager is telling us that the corporate office is telling them to get us off the property,” Bosschart said. “They were really clear that we were not allowed on the property. Apparently, Safeway owns that shopping center.”

Over at the Safeway on Mangrove, signature gatherers also met some resistance.

Nicolas Guillermo, a petitioner from the Bay Area pushing a stack of state measures, including the GMO petition, said he was approached by the store’s manager on Friday, April 6, and told to disperse. Ready for such a challenge, he pulled out some documents reflecting state law to show that he was legally entitled to gather signatures at such a venue.

The next day a sign appeared on the sidewalk near where Guillermo was working. It reads: “Valued Customers. Solicitors or petitioners are here without our permission. To encourage them to leave, please do not contribute money or sign petitions. Thank you, Store Management.”

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the law states a store like Safeway “can do a requirement for reasonable time, place and activity restrictions” when it comes to signature-gatherers soliciting customers.