This e-mail contains the latest info about the March 25-27 Kaiser/Maxxam Protest in Tacoma. Please copy and circulate widely.
Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Event Locations/Directions 3. Calendar of events 4. Action Info 5. Transportation/Housing/Food 6. Contact Info/Needs
**************************************************** (1) INTRODUCTION
PROTEST KAISER ALUMINUM/MAXXAM SUPPORT LOCKED OUT KAISER STEELWORKERS DEFEND HEADWATERS ANCIENT REDWOOD FOREST ECO-SYSTEM
MARCH & RALLY SAT MARCH 25, 3PM MASS NONVIOLENT PROTEST MON MARCH 27, 8AM-ALL-DAY
SUPPORT LOCKED-OUT KAISER STEELWORKERS On March 25-27, a coalition of environmentalists, labor, students, community activists, people of faith and other concerned citizens will use the power of mass nonviolent protest to show solidarity with the struggles of locked-out Kaiser Aluminum Steelworkers. Maxxam, owned by corporate raider and former savings and loan (S&L) tycoon Charles Hurwitz, acquired both Kaiser Aluminum and Pacific Lumber Company in the 1980s using junk bond financing. To help pay off these junk bonds, Hurwitz sold or closed half of Kaiser's plants. He then demanded wage and benefit concessions, job cuts, and contracting out for union work. Hurwitz's demands left the 3,000 United Steelworker members with no choice other than to go on strike in September of 1998. Increasing his anti-labor, greedy stance, Hurwitz hired "scab" replacement workers and then locked-out the Steelworkers on January 14, 1999. The lockout (which is one of the longest and largest in US labor history) continues to this day.
DEFEND CALIFORNIA'S ANCIENT REDWOODS! After it was acquired by Hurwitz and Maxxam, Pacific Lumber (the largest private holder of ancient redwoods in the world) accelerated "liquidation logging" of the remaining ancient Headwaters forest to restructure Hurwitz's debt. This clear-cutting, which is ecologically devastating has sparked environmental lawsuits and the some of the largest environmental protests in the United States.
JOIN THE ACTIVISTS WHO EXPOSED THE WTO! Students, environmentalists, labor, community activists, people of faith and concerned citizens banded together in the streets of Seattle to protest the most powerful, undemocratic institution on earth, the World Trade Organization. Now this same coalition will stand together again to challenge corporate greed in our own region. Kaiser Aluminum has already canceled their movement of bauxite ore by ship and train at the Port of Tacoma in anticipation of our protest! Simultaneous protests will take place near Headwaters ancient forest in Northern California. Kaiser/Maxxam Corporation epitomizes what is wrong with the current economic and political system: profit of a few at the expense of communities, the environment and our future. A new world is possible and a global movement of resistance is rising up to make it happen. Join us.
Endorsed by: King County Labor Council, Pierce County Labor Council, Seattle Direct Action Network, WA. State and Portland Jobs With Justice, Olympia Earth First!, Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment, Tacoma Catholic Worker, Peoples Assembly, Black Student Union (Tacoma Comm. College), H.O.P.E. Network (U.W. Tacoma), Advocates for Social Justice (Pacific Lutheran University), Oregon Peaceworks, Labor Party (Seattle), Native Forest Network
******************************************** (2) EVENT LOCATIONS/DIRECTIONS
KAISER PLANT: Take I-5. Get off at exit 137 Fife/Milton (From North/Seattle go right, from South take Fife/Milton fork across hwy). Turn left at first major intersection (at Fife sign) onto Pacific Hwy. Continue approx. 1 mile. Turn right on Alexander Ave. Continue approx. 2 miles to parking lot on left before Emerald Queen Casino. Park and you are less than a mile from the Kaiser Plant gate on Hwy 99 West (look for the giant smokestacks).
CARPENTERS HALL, Local 470: Directions: Take I-5. Get off at City Center exit (look for the Tacoma Dome). Stay left. Straight ahead on A St. Left on 11th St. Up hill to Fawcett. Left to 1322 Fawcett, near 13th.
********************************************* (3) SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
WED-FRI, MARCH 22-24 10AM-8PM: Protest Workshops, trainings and teach-ins: Nonviolent Protest, Art and Street theater, Teach-In: Kaiser Steelworkers, Pacific Lumber and Corporate Power. Carpenters Hall, Tacoma
SAT MARCH 25 10AM: Gather/Send-off Rally, Carpenters Hall, Tacoma 11AM-1PM: Informational leafleting about Kaiser and Pacific Lumber Products. 3PM: MARCH & RALLY AT KAISER PLANT 7PM: Community Social & Dinner, Carpenters Hall, Tacoma
SUN MARCH 26 10AM: Gather/Send-off Rally, *Carpenters Hall 11AM-1PM: Informational leafleting about Kaiser and Pacific Lumber Products. 3PM: INTERFAITH CELEBRATION Location TBA 7PM: CANDLELIGHT VIGIL, Meet 6:00 PM, Carpenters Hall, Tacoma
MON MARCH 27 8AM-ALL-DAY: MASS NONVIOLENT PROTEST, MEET AT KAISER PLANT
**************************************************** (4) MASS NONVIOLENT PROTEST INFO
Background This protest grew out of an effort to continue labor-grassroots activist cooperation between King and Pierce County labor communities and Direct Action Network and other activists that came together in the streets of Seattle during the WTO and in it's aftermath. It is also a continuation of the incredible alliance between locked out Kaiser steelworkers and environmental activists fighting for Headwaters and elsewhere, which sparked the first giant banner hanging action at Tacoma's Pier 7 last year. We see this protest as a step in building a long term broad based movement capable of standing up to the current economic and political system.
Action Guidelines All participants in this action are asked to agree to these action guidelines. having this basic agreement will allow people from many backgrounds, movements, and beliefs to work together for this action. They are not philosophical or political requirements placed upon you or judgments about the validity of some tactics over others. These guidelines are basic agreements that create a basis for trust, so we can work together for this action and know what to expect from each other.
1)We will use no physical violence towards any person 2)We will carry no weapons 3)We will not bring or use any alcohol or illegal drugs 4)We will not destroy property 5)We are here to support, not jeopardize, the Steelworkers' struggle against Kaiser/Maxxam and to build a stronger coalition.
Nonviolent Action Training All participants who are considering risking arrest or doing support for those who do are asked to attend nonviolent mass protest training to prepare themselves for both the action and the legal consequences.
Legal We will have a staffed legal support number during the protests and until everyone is out of jail. In addition each affinity group should have it's own legal support person/people.
Peacekeepers/Marshals There will be Peacekeepers/Marshals during the rallies, march, and protest. Peacekeepers will be drawn from various communities involved in the action.
Affinity/Action Groups Affinity Groups, self reliant groups of 5-20 people, together with unions and other groups that have their own organization are the basic planning and decision making bodies for the protest.
Protest Planning Councils We will have Protest Planning Council Meetings on Saturday at 9pm and Sunday at 5pm to coordinate Monday's mass nonviolent protest and plan jail/court solidarity. Every participating group should plan to send a spokesperson at least to the Sunday Afternoon Meeting.
Convergence Join us Wednesday March 22 to Friday March 24, 10am to 8pm each day for three days of Trainings, Workshops and Teach-ins: Nonviolent Protest, Legal/Solidarity Trainings, First Aid, Radio, Art, Giant Puppet and Street Theater Workshops, teach-ins on Kaiser Steelworkers, Pacific Lumber and Corporate Power. It will be located at the Carpenters Hall in Tacoma at 1322 Fawcett, near 13th.
******************************************************* (5) TRANSPORTATION/HOUSING/FOOD
Housing We are working to secure some simple housing for out of the area people. Most of this will be floor space. People needing housing should call to confirm and reserve space and bring a sleeping bag and pad. If you have have friends (or friends of friends) that you can stay with in the area please take advantage of them to keep available housing open for those who do not have other options. If you need housing or live in the area and can offer housing, please call Ann (253) 564-3103.
Food People are encouraged to come self-sufficient-- bring snacks, food and to help sustain yourself. We plan to cook and serve two simple meals a day-- lunch and dinner. Please bring a plate, cup and utensils. We need bulk food donations-- See needs below.
Public Transit
>From Seattle: Busses to Tacoma are really easy from Seattle, and from Oly,
kinda easy, but limited. Pierce Transit information is available at
www.piercetransit.org call 1-800-562-8109 daytime until 6:30pm. The basic
busses from Seattle are the 590 or the 594 SoundTransit Express. You want
to ask if they're going to "Downtown" Tacoma, and not just on to Lakewood
or somewhere. (Those are other numbers, but it's confusing and I always
ask.) The busses leave hourly or better, up to 9 or 10 at night. Cost
$2.50 one way. They leave along 2nd avenue going south. With stops at 2nd
and Virginia, 2nd and Union, and 2nd and E. Washington. (And some other
places too, if you wanna call. They start at 9th and Steward, before they
run through downtown.) That's easy.
>From Olympia, You can call the same numbers for exact info. 1-800-562-8109.
You want the Olympia Express #603, or #605. on weekdays. These are
commuter lines, so they leave early (5:50-7:30am) or late (4:20-5:35pm)
from the downtown Oly Transit Center. Ask for "Downtown Tacoma," again or
you might end up somewhere else. (You can take the #620 later on weekdays,
but it drops you at the evil Tacoma Mall, and you transfer to downtown.
Not that big a deal, but a pain, see below.) Weekends suck... They only run
the #620 bus, (because nobody uses them.) that goes every two hours
starting at 9:15 until 5:15 from Olympia to the Tacoma Mall. Get a
transfer when you get on, to transfer to a #210 bus from the Mall to
downtown. MAKE SURE you get the one going DOWNTOWN, or you end up way the
hell out in Steilacoom. (Done that.) Just ask and it's easy.
Seattle Carpool to Tacoma: Safeway parking lot, 15th ave and John on Capital Hill cars will be leaving at:
SATURDAY -- 9am and 2pm
SUNDAY -- 9am and 2pm
MONDAY -- 4am and 7am public transit info: TBA
**************************************************** (6) CONTACTS/NEEDS
Needs: Money: We need donations to help cover the costs of this action. Please write checks to Jobs With Justice-- Steelworkers and mail to: PO Box 9662, Seattle WA 98109 Food: Bulk Food Donations: Call Joe to find out what is needed before donating (253) 572-6582
CONTACT INFO Tacoma (253) 572-4247 Seattle (206) 441-4969 Olympia (360) 352-8526 Portland (503) 236-5573 e-mail: kim2 at chickmail.com web: www.agitprop.org/artandrevolution/kaiser
STAND UP TO CORPORATE GLOBALIZATION & GREED
Kimberly Houde Editor/Analyst Liaison BullsEye Internet News Service http://www.bullseyeinc.com kimberly at bullseyeinc.com 206.889.8644
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