Two US Port Workers Treated like Terrorists

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.infoshop.org/inews/article.php?story=20071005141349851

HARD WORKING AMERICANS TREATED LIKE TERRORISTS
Oread Daily http://oreaddaily.blogspot.com/

The Marine Worker Monitor reports on August 23, West Sacramento cops and private SSA Marine Terminal(SSA) security guards viciously attacked, two Local 10 brothers returning to work after lunch on the SSA terminal. When the guards demanded to search the car, the brothers asked to see the MARSEC (maritime security) reg and called the Local 10 business agent.

Instead the guards called the cops.

The Monitor adds:


"While talking by phone to BA MacKay and without provocation, they were assaulted, dragged from the car, maced and jailed, charged with “trespassing”. How the hell can a longshoreman be “trespassing”, after returning to work at the terminal. They’d already shown PMA ID and a driver’s license. This is racial profiling and police brutality. The longshoremen were black and the cops white. Such is the brutal face of the “war on terror” on the docks."


The police action was, needless to say, done in the name of "port security." The workers, however, had all the ID necessary for their presence at the port.

A letter of solidarity from Leonard Riley of Charleston ILA Local 1422 to Local 10 read in part:


"Historically it has been this arm of the government ( the police ) that has been used in the initial attack on groups of workers. They come in and attack the workers and afterwards they file charges against the same workers. It is at this point that the another arm of the government ( the courts ) takes over the assault the on these workers."

"This tactic is all to familiar. I was the same one employed on a group of workers in Charleston, SC in January of the year 2000. They later became known as the "Charleston Five".

I am deeply concerned with this most recent attack on our Brothers of Local 10. After finding out about this aggressive act, I started the process of informing the membership of ILA, Local 1422. Everyone that I have spoken to express much outrage. Local 1422 condemns this despicable act and in solid support of Local 10. Local 10 was there for the Charleston Five and Local 1422 will be there for you. "An injustice there is an injustice everywhere".

All of us in organized labor must unite to fight against this kind of organized attack on all working people."


Local 10 has a history of of progressive unionism. They took part in the international solidarity movement—helping to bring down the apartheid regime in South Africa. They have protested the war against Iraq, and they have fought against racism inside the United States.

FULL story at link.

[nightrider767]

1. When Blackwater takes over Port Security

They won't have to call cops to start the tazing, beating or tear gassing...

[pingzing58]

2. What the police and security at the port work for the mob. Didn't pay their protection money?