Friends of Willow and the Transit Workers Solidarity Committee are organizing a benefit for Willow Rosenthal's medical needs. Willow Rosenthal was permanently injured by the Oakland Police when they were dispersing a protest against the war on Iraq on April 7th, 2003. She was one of 60 people who were wounded when the OPD opened fire on nonviolent protesters and workers with wooden bullets, shot-filled sacks, and concussion grenades; and charged people with motorcycles for two hours. The event will take place on Thursday April 7th, 2005, at 7 pm, at Café Van Kleef (21 and over), near Telegraph and 17th. Willow's friends are encouraging people to either spread the word about the benefit, to show up on April 7th, or to donate money to help with Willow's medical expenses.

Musical performers at the event will include Andrea Pritchett, Shelley Doty & Friends, and Henri Ducharme with TaraLinda playing New French music and beyond. There will also be a spoken word performance and a screening of “Shots on the Docks” the documentary depicting the events at the Oakland Docks. "Shots on the Docks" was made by Steve Zeltzer of the Labor Video Project. Speakers will include Jack Heyman, an ILWU activist who was arrested by police on April 7th, 2003 and who fought and won bogus charges against him; and Antonia Juhasz, who is a writer about corporate globalization and how it relates to the war on Iraq and is also an antiwar educator and organizer. A member of the Campaign for Community Safety and Police Accountability will also speak.

Read more about April 7th and Willow's Injury