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AP: Police Attack California Anti-War Protesters
Rubber bullets fired at demonstrators. Longshoremen hit.
Published on Monday, April 7, 2003 by the Associated Press
Police Attack California Anti-War Protesters
by Marth Mendoza
OAKLAND, Calif. - Police open fired Monday morning with non-lethal bullets at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland, injuring several longshoremen standing nearby.
Police were trying to clear protesters from an entrance to the docks when they opened fire and the longshoremen apparently were caught in the line of fire.
Six longshoremen were treated by paramedics and at least one was expected to be taken to a hospital. It was unclear if any of the protesters was injured.
"I was standing as far back as I could," said longshoreman Kevin Wilson. "It was very scary. All of that force wasn't necessary."
Last week, a San Francisco-based peace group, Direct Action to Stop the War, had announced that it would stage a series of protests Monday involving new acts of civil disobedience.
The Port of Oakland was among the targets, organizers had said, because at least one shipping company is handling war supplies.
Trent Willis, a business agent for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said angrily that dockworkers were leaving the docks after the incident.
"They shot my guys. We're not going to work today," Willis said. "The cops had no reason to open up on them."
Police used non-lethal bullets, sandbags and concussion grenades to try to break up about 500 protesters, who split into groups in front of different terminals.
Oakland Police officer James Carroll said police set up a "skirmish line" and ordered the protesters to disperse.
"It escalated pretty quick," he said. "Usually you go to these protests and you wait around for three to four hours. Today, all of a sudden, people were being taken into custody." He could not confirm that anyone was hit by the bullets.
Protests also took place at the federal building in San Francisco and at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Seven people were arrested when they temporarily blocked an exit ramp off Interstate 280.
© 2003 The Associated Press
shared under Fair Use
Police Attack California Anti-War Protesters
by Marth Mendoza
OAKLAND, Calif. - Police open fired Monday morning with non-lethal bullets at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland, injuring several longshoremen standing nearby.
Police were trying to clear protesters from an entrance to the docks when they opened fire and the longshoremen apparently were caught in the line of fire.
Six longshoremen were treated by paramedics and at least one was expected to be taken to a hospital. It was unclear if any of the protesters was injured.
"I was standing as far back as I could," said longshoreman Kevin Wilson. "It was very scary. All of that force wasn't necessary."
Last week, a San Francisco-based peace group, Direct Action to Stop the War, had announced that it would stage a series of protests Monday involving new acts of civil disobedience.
The Port of Oakland was among the targets, organizers had said, because at least one shipping company is handling war supplies.
Trent Willis, a business agent for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said angrily that dockworkers were leaving the docks after the incident.
"They shot my guys. We're not going to work today," Willis said. "The cops had no reason to open up on them."
Police used non-lethal bullets, sandbags and concussion grenades to try to break up about 500 protesters, who split into groups in front of different terminals.
Oakland Police officer James Carroll said police set up a "skirmish line" and ordered the protesters to disperse.
"It escalated pretty quick," he said. "Usually you go to these protests and you wait around for three to four hours. Today, all of a sudden, people were being taken into custody." He could not confirm that anyone was hit by the bullets.
Protests also took place at the federal building in San Francisco and at the Concord Naval Weapons Station. Seven people were arrested when they temporarily blocked an exit ramp off Interstate 280.
© 2003 The Associated Press
shared under Fair Use
For more information:
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/04...
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?Oakland police are being the most aggressive of any department I?ve seen in the Bay Area since the war began,? said protester Damien McAnany, a database manager. ?The San Francisco Police Department never used any of this stuff against us.?
Can't you just HEAR the lisp in this little sissy's voice? Damien thinks the police are too aggressive! aaahhh!!!
1Ticking off Longshoremen is not a thing these protestors should be doing. If these effeminate anti-war protestors try again, I'd enjoy seeing the Longshoremen giving them the heave-ho over the side.
28 posted on 04/07/2003 1:20 PM PDT by lilylangtree
posted on 04/07/2003 12:57 PM PDT by lsee
I heard one of them on Hannity just now. He definitely sounded light in the loafers.
4 posted on 04/07/2003 1:00 PM PDT by b4its2late
Great picture. I hope the oakland PD does it to all of them. They are traitors plan and simple. better yet, bus them down to phoenix. Sheriff joe would make short work of this rable
14 posted on 04/07/2003 1:08 PM PDT by DigiLinus
Got what you were begging for, didn'tcha Sweety?
16 posted on 04/07/2003 1:09 PM PDT by Wondervixen
And NOW, these fairies have a bunch of pissed off Longshoremen (some of which got hit with rubber stings) who have THEIR FACES burned into their brains for the next time they see them around town!
20 posted on 04/07/2003 1:13 PM PDT by Wondervixen
Ouch! Still, it could have been a bulldozer.
25 posted on 04/07/2003 1:19 PM PDT by Bernard Marx
Ticking off Longshoremen is not a thing these protestors should be doing. If these effeminate anti-war protestors try again, I'd enjoy seeing the Longshoremen giving them the heave-ho over the side.
28 posted on 04/07/2003 1:20 PM PDT by lilylangtree
Can't you just HEAR the lisp in this little sissy's voice? Damien thinks the police are too aggressive! aaahhh!!!
1Ticking off Longshoremen is not a thing these protestors should be doing. If these effeminate anti-war protestors try again, I'd enjoy seeing the Longshoremen giving them the heave-ho over the side.
28 posted on 04/07/2003 1:20 PM PDT by lilylangtree
posted on 04/07/2003 12:57 PM PDT by lsee
I heard one of them on Hannity just now. He definitely sounded light in the loafers.
4 posted on 04/07/2003 1:00 PM PDT by b4its2late
Great picture. I hope the oakland PD does it to all of them. They are traitors plan and simple. better yet, bus them down to phoenix. Sheriff joe would make short work of this rable
14 posted on 04/07/2003 1:08 PM PDT by DigiLinus
Got what you were begging for, didn'tcha Sweety?
16 posted on 04/07/2003 1:09 PM PDT by Wondervixen
And NOW, these fairies have a bunch of pissed off Longshoremen (some of which got hit with rubber stings) who have THEIR FACES burned into their brains for the next time they see them around town!
20 posted on 04/07/2003 1:13 PM PDT by Wondervixen
Ouch! Still, it could have been a bulldozer.
25 posted on 04/07/2003 1:19 PM PDT by Bernard Marx
Ticking off Longshoremen is not a thing these protestors should be doing. If these effeminate anti-war protestors try again, I'd enjoy seeing the Longshoremen giving them the heave-ho over the side.
28 posted on 04/07/2003 1:20 PM PDT by lilylangtree
Freepers:
The Longshoremen were attacked by the police, not the protesters.
The police are paid by the public to protect and serve them. Yet clearly they were not trying to protect the citizens but rather the corporation's profits. The community identified this war profiteer, and set up a peaceful picket line, which has been a traditional way to protest injustice. Especially within the labor movement.
As for the homophobic remarks, it just reveals how shallow your arguments are.
We will be doing this again, but I hope the police don't try this riotous tactic again. Because even though "I'd enjoy seeing the Longshoremen giving them the heave-ho over the side," I'd rather see the longshoremen NOT getting hit again.
When a police force turns upon the very people they are supposed to be there to protect, in the immortal words of b4its2late: "'They are traitors plan and simple. "
The Longshoremen were attacked by the police, not the protesters.
The police are paid by the public to protect and serve them. Yet clearly they were not trying to protect the citizens but rather the corporation's profits. The community identified this war profiteer, and set up a peaceful picket line, which has been a traditional way to protest injustice. Especially within the labor movement.
As for the homophobic remarks, it just reveals how shallow your arguments are.
We will be doing this again, but I hope the police don't try this riotous tactic again. Because even though "I'd enjoy seeing the Longshoremen giving them the heave-ho over the side," I'd rather see the longshoremen NOT getting hit again.
When a police force turns upon the very people they are supposed to be there to protect, in the immortal words of b4its2late: "'They are traitors plan and simple. "
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