Initial meeting to organize a day of anti-war action at the Port

Come to the initial meeting to organize a day of anti-war action at the Port
of Oakland

A detailed proposal will be presented for non-violent direct action on April 7, 2007, the anniversary date of the day in 2003, when police brutalized anti-war picketers at the Port.

The proposal is to issue a call to action to stop the war machine, oppose war profiteering, and to end the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan and to bring the troops home now. The proposed day of action would include a march from the West Oakland BART to the Port, a mass picket against war profiteering companies using the Port, and a rally with speakers and entertainment. Non-violent civil disobedience,
for those who might wish to take such a stand is a possibility that will also be discussed.

The proposal is to target either Stevedoring Services of America or American President Lines, or both, which are two corporations with big contracts for the shipping of war material. These are the same two companies that were targeted in 2003. On April 7, 2003, Oakland police (OPD) attacked a non-violent anti-war picket by shooting "less than lethal" munitions, concussion grenades, and tear gas. Many
people, including both protesters and longshore workers were seriously injured. The brutal action by the Oakland police was widely condemned.As a result the Oakland City revised the protocols for police crowd control of non-violent protesters exercising their first amendment rights on public property. Lawsuits were filed by the injured and Oakland had to pay big money in settlements. The U. N. even wrote up the police attack as a human rights violation in their annual report.
It's time to take it back to the Port to show that we will not be
intimidated from exercising our rights.

This is not a proposal for a confrontation with police. Care will be taken to insure that OPD does not repeat it's brutality of 2003.

This initial meeting will discuss the proposal and plan the day of action and set the wheels in motion to organize it, including doing outreach and publicity and obtaining endorsements.

The meeting will be on Monday, March 5, 2007:


(PLEASE IGNORE THIS STUPID INSULT): All anti-war organizers and activists
are invited. Please come to be productive and cooperative and not disruptive or argumentative.

Reply to this email for further information or call Jonathan at (510) 465-9914.