April 7th

Rally, March, and Picket

Get Involved!

Get involved!

April 7th Rally, March, and Picket

Remember the Shots?  Back to the Docks!

On April 7th, 2003 Direct Action to Stop the War (DASW), labor activists, and community groups resisted the war abroad and at home by picketing at the Oakland docks, targeting shipping companies APL, arms-shippers, and SSA, privatizers of the port of Um Qasr in Iraq.

That day the Oakland Police reacted with a brutal assault on demonstrators and longshoremen. The shots were heard around the world, and many questioned whether the OPD had planned to react with excessive force just to protect the interests of wealthy union-busting corporations.

The experience galvanized anti-war activists, anti-police brutality organizers and the ILWU to return to the docks, linking militarism and violence against the Iraqi people to that of the Oakland Police Department locally against communities of color. This alliance also fought SSA's international attack on workers: locally against the ILWU and longshore workers during their contract negotiations in 2002, and against Iraqi port workers in Um Qasr.

A year later, the struggle continues. The Iraqi people still live under the colonial occupation of the U.S. with no democratic rights or basic services. The OPD has been let off the hook for their brutal and corrupt practices˜most recently when the Oakland Riders were acquitted. And now, the Oakland District Attorney's Office is prosecuting 25 protesters, including ILWU Local 10 Business Agent Jack Heyman, arrested on April 7, 2003 in order to protect itself during the civil lawsuit process. In addition, SSA is now attempting to privatize the port at Chittagong, Bangladesh, attempting to bribe the mayor Chittagong to sell out his country and the port workers unions.

On the one year anniversary of April 7th Direct Action to Stop the War and PUEBLO will return to the docks and as well as hold a police accountability rally at the OPD. We call for an end to the occupation in Iraq, police brutality in Oakland and SSA's attacks on workers around the world.

This will also be a national day of action -- anti-war groups in New York will protest the Carlyle Group on the same day. More cities/actions are strongly encouraged!

Please make this action a success by helping in one or all of the following ways:

  1. If you or your organization is interested in helping plan this exciting action, please come to our next planning meeting: SUNDAY March 28th 2 pm
    HERE Local 2850 office in Oakland. Contact Liz Perlman [email protected] or Sasha Wright [email protected] for a schedule of future meetings.
  2. Help organize the OPD rally: we need speakers! If your organization would like to connect the dots and speak at this anti-police brutality rally, let us know! Contact Jackie Thomason [email protected] or Susan Quinlan [email protected]
  3. Transportation: We need people with vans, shuttles, etc. who are willing to transport folks from the OPD rally to West Oakland BART, and then between BART and the SSA gates.
  4. Spread the word! Pass this invite on to friends and allies, help pass out announcements and fliers at upcoming anti-war and longshoreworkers events. Get Fliers Here!
  5. Mark your calendar! Reserve the date now and come out with your friends and family to protest the war, police brutality and attacks on workers rights on April 7th. Thank you for your support and solidarity,

The April 7th Working Group, DASW and PUEBLO.

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