Dear Mayor Brown:
The police actions that occurred in the port of Oakland on April 7th, brutally suppressing a peaceful anti-war demonstration by shooting protesters and longshore workers without warning, is an affront to all those who cherish civil liberties.
We, who have expressed our opposition to war and defend others’ rights to protest, demand that:
1) All charges against the protesters and ILWU longshore union official Jack Heyman be dropped immediately.
2) There be an independent investigation into this unprovoked attack with appropriate justice being meted out to those responsible for the planning and implementation of the assault.
3) Oakland police be directed to refrain from further violent actions which deny peoples’ democratic rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of association.
The Rank and File ILWU Anti-War Action Committee
Mumia Abu-Jamal, author and death row inmate;
Alexander Cockburn, author and co-editor of Counterpunch;
Bob Crow, General Secretary of the National Union of Rail, Maritime
and Transport Workers (Britain);
Ossie Davis, actor;
Ruby Dee, actress;
Danny Glover, actor;
Asher Harer, ILWU Strike Committees ’46 and ’48;
Bob Middleton, Chaplain, Port of Oakland;
Jimmy Nolan, Chairman, Liverpool, England dockers;
Jeffrey St. Clair, author and co-editor CounterPunch
Let Jerry Brown know how you feel:
Phone: (510) 238-3141
Email: jb@oaklandnet.com
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UNIONS RALLY AGAINST EXCESSIVE POLICE FORCE IN OAKLAND
Early on the morning of April 7, Oakland police fired upon peaceful protesters and workers at the Port of Oakland. Members of ILWU 10 were standing by, not crossing community picket lines in front of their work entrances because it was a health and safety matter. Nearly without warning, the Oakland Police Department started firing wooden dowels, concussion grenades, and beanbags at everyone there, hitting workers and protesters in the face, neck, and back. An ILWU Local 10 Business Agent was also arrested in the madness. The Mayor says the OPD did the right thing.
MASSIVE TURNOUT OF UNION MEMBERS IS NEEDED TO SEND THE MESSAGE:
NO MORE ATTACKS ON WORKERS AND PROTESTERS
WHEN: Saturday, April 26th, 2003, 1 p.m. RALLY: 530 Water Street, Jack London Sq. Oakland (Oakland Port Authority) MARCH: To Oakland City Hall
For more information contact the Alameda County Central Labor Council, 510/632-4242.