FTP: Solidarity and Resistance in the Streets of Stockton

In the summer of 2010, Stockton Police and San Joaquin County Sheriffs killed James Rivera after a high speed pursuit in a residential neighborhood. Police hit the van James was driving, forcing him to crash into a residential home. Only a day before, they came to James' home and told his family "you'll be going to a funeral tomorrow." After crashing the van, police then proceeded to shoot James with automatic weapons even though he was unarmed. The owner of the home has never been compensated for the damage and has since hosted BBQs in support of the struggle against the police and in solidarity with James' family. The Rivera family has also not been allowed access to the police report or the autopsy report, even after two whole years. Since then, the family has waged on ongoing campaign of resistance in the streets of Stockton, disrupting the DA's office, protesting and marching through the streets, and also showing solidarity with other families in Manteca and Modesto who are also fighting back against police terror.

This spring, resistance in Stockton heated up. Hundreds converged on the downtown on April 10th, shutting down traffic for hours and facing off against police officers. Participants included members of Occupy Oakland, the Rivera family, the Duenez family from Manteca who are organizing around the police murder of Ernest Duenez Jr., and the family of Luther "Champ" Brown, Jr. Champ was killed by Stockton police only a few days before the demonstration, on April 6th, during a traffic stop. Only several days after the militant demonstration that shook downtown, Stockton police beat to death James Cooke during a traffic stop. Cooke was the third person in 2012 to be killed by law enforcement in Stockton.

We call on all comrades to converge in Stockton on Thursday, May 31st, at 2pm at Courthouse Park on El Dorado and Center Street. Buses in Oakland will leave from Oscar Grant Plaza (14th and Broadway), at 11 AM. They will then arrive in Stockton. Buses will return to Oakland at the end of the demonstration. A BBQ meal will be served.

The slave patrols of the past are the police forces of today.
Fire to the plantations!

FOR RESISTANCE TO POLICE AND PRISONS!
FOR VENGEANCE FOR THOSE MURDERED BY OUR ENEMIES!
FROM THE BAY AREA TO THE CENTRAL VALLEY!