[lbo-talk] More on War in Oakland

[joanna bujes]

>
>http://counterpunch.org/chretien04072003.html
>
>April 2, 2003
>
>Wooden Bullets & Grenades
>Oakland Cops Attack Longshoremen and Peace Protesters
>By TODD CHRETIAN
>
>Oakland Police tossed concussion grenades and shot wooden bullets at anti-war
>protesters and union members, injuring several, on the Oakland docks.
>
>Around 500 anti-war activists had set up a peaceful picket shouting "Union 
>Yes!
>War No!" at American Presidential Lines because it ships military cargo and
>Stevedoring Services of America docks because it stands to profit from the war
>through a contract to run the docks in Um Quasr (sp??) after the war in Iraq.
>
>Representatives of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union determined
>that they would not cross the picket line because the police presence 
>presented
>a threat to their members' health and safety, thereby shutting down the 
>morning
>shift on the docks.
>
>The decision proved correct as minutes later, cops charged motorcycles into
>peaceful picketers and union members, threw concussion grenades at them 
>and then
>opened fire with high velocity wooden blocks.
>
>Sue Sandlin, former co-chair of the Port Workers Solidarity Committee, 
>described
>the action to Socialist Worker.
>
>"The police came down the street towards us in a military formation. 
>Protesters
>actually had decided to take down the picket because our plan was to have a
>peaceful protest on public property. We were trying to figure out how to
>disperse because the cops had blocked the entrance that most of us had used to
>get to the gates of the docks. We began walking away from the police lines,
>trying to get to the sides of the road. Then police opened fire. People were
>being shot in the back as they tried to get away. Me and my friend dove into a
>ditch and she was hit by a rubber bullet. There were people dropping after 
>being
>hit and there were explosions all around from the police percussion 
>grenades. I
>was afraid people were being killed. The police were firing 
>indiscriminately at
>protesters who were fleeing as well as workers who were stopped in their 
>cars in
>the middle of the street. It was one of the most terrifying experiences I've
>ever had. After the initial shock wore off, everyone wase appalled by the 
>police
>and concerned for the people who'd been wounded. So we tended to the 
>people who
>had fallen and then we regrouped in an effort to get out as safely as possible
>in order to regroup later."
>
>Trent Willis, a business agent for the International Longshore and Warehouse
>Union, told the Associated Press, "They shot my guys. We're not going to work
>today. The cops had no reason to open up on them."
>
>Police arrested 24 protesters, including ILWU Local 10 Business Agent Jack
>Heyman.
>
>As Heyman was dragged away in handcuffs, wearing his ILWU jacket, he shouted,
>"I'm a union official. I have the right to represent my members!"
>
>International Socialist Organization member Regina, told Socialist Worker,
>"After the cops charged us, I dove into a ditch and that's when they shot 
>me in
>the elbow. Some fucking democracya*| we can't even have a peaceful picket!"
>
>Steve Stallone, spokesman for the ILWU who was present at the protest told
>Socialist Worker, "Clearly this was an inappropriate use of force. They police
>shot the union workers they were supposedly there to protect. If they'd wanted
>to keep people away from the docks, they could have just put up a barricade a
>half mile away. They never needed to shot at what was clearly a non-violent
>action."
>
>In fact, police response was no spontaneous over reaction.
>
>For at least 15 minutes, police formed lines, calmly aimed at fleeing 
>protesters
>and fired.
>
>They came prepared to use a massive level of violence in order to 
>intimidate the
>union and the anti-war movement from ever trying to take action on the docks.
>
>The Oakland Police Department has a reputation for violence and, in fact, just
>paid out eleven million dollars in civil settlement involving framing and
>beating innocent Oaklanders by a group of cops called the "Riders."
>
>The labor movement should show its solidarity with its own members of the ILWU
>and for the right of the anti-war movement to conduct peaceful protests by
>denouncing this unprovoked police brutality in clear terms.
>
>Todd Chretien writes for the Socialist Worker. He can be reached at:
>ChretienTodd at aol.com