Open
World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
USLAW Statement in Solidarity with ILWU Local 10 BA Jack Heyman
U.S. Labor Against the War
P.O. Box 153, 1718 M Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036
E-Mail: info@uslaboragainstwar.org Website: www.uslaboragainstwar.org
December 3, 2003
Dear Trade Unionists and Supporters of Labor and Democratic Rights:
United States Labor Against War (USLAW) vigorously protests the charges
leveled by the maritime bosses and authorities in the Port of Oakand
against International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 Business
Agent Jack Heyman.
Heyman is facing misdemeanor charges in relation to the April 7 antiwar
protest in the Port of Oakland. This is a classic case of blaming the
victim.
According to eyewitnesses and media reports, this was a peaceful protest
until police opened fire with so-called "less than lethal"
weapons. Numerous demonstrators and nine longshoremen were hit with this
fire, sending five ILWU members to the hospital.
When Heyman attempted to warn longshore workers at an adjacent terminal
gate who were waiting to go to work that police were firing on ILWU
members, the police dragged him out of his car and arrested him. ILWU
Local 10 President Henry Graham protested vehemently: "If a union
official can't tell his members to get out of harm's way, then what rights
do we have? Safety is a fundamental right of all workers. And the right to
protest for the demonstrators is indelibly etched in the Bill of
Rights."
The unprovoked police action on April 7 against Brother Heyman, other ILWU
Local 10 members, and dozens of antiwar protesters on the docks in Oakland
demonstrates quite clearly to us in the labor movement that "Homeland
Security" is but another facet of the Bush administration's war on
labor and civil liberties here at home.
What's at stake in Oakland is the right to protest on the docks, a right
maritime workers and others have historically exercised but is now
threatened since the 9/11 terrorist attack. Under the guise of fighting a
"war on terror," Bush is attempting to declare the waterfront a
"national security" zone where workers are no longer free to
exercise their Constitutionally guaranteed rights.
USLAW joins with the ILWU and labor unions across the country in demanding
that the charges against Brother Heyman be dismissed. As we express
solidarity with Brother Heyman, we call on all to honor the watchword of
the labor movement: "An injury to one is an injury to all!"
Gene Bruskin and bob Muehlenkamp,
Co-convenors,
U.S. LAbor Against the War