Cynthia McKinney Letter to ILWU in Support of Port Actions Against the War
Power to the Committee to Elect Cynthia McKinney for President
Post Office Box 311759 _ Atlanta, GA 31131-1759
Telephone 510-250-0729
www.RunCynthiaRun.org
April 2, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the ILWU,
Your powerful Longshore Caucus resolution, "For Workers' Action to Stop the War", and your decision to stop work on the West Coast docks May 1st, inspires all of us who have taken up the struggle to end the disastrous war and occupation of Iraq, foisted on us by the Republican administration, and continually funded without substantial objection by both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress. Sadly, the Bush-Pelosi war policy is a formula for endless global conflict, deterioration of the rule of law among nations, and growing impoverishment, indebtedness and evisceration of workers' rights and civil liberties here at home.
While many unions pass resolution after resolution while doing little to actually stop the bloodshed, for generations the ILWU has shown that we can resist the war-mongering corporate politicians, and their profiteering attempts to divide the labor movement and weaken our capacity to organize and resist their destructive actions.
Once again, your union is setting a shining example for working people everywhere-as you did in 1978, when you refused to load bombs for the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile; in 1984, when you refused to move South African cargo to protest the racist apartheid government; in 1996, when you honored the picket line for striking dockworkers in Liverpool, England; in 1999, when you shut down the Pacific Coast to protest the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle; in 2001, when you prepared a Coast-wide work stoppage in defense of five gallant longshoremen in Charleston, South Carolina, who were charged with felonies for walking a picket line; not to mention the numerous times that you have stopped trade on the West Coast waterfront in support of Black political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
I want you and your members to know that at least one 2008 Presidential candidate is proud to stand up publicly in full and unqualified support of your resolution to celebrate International Workers Day by protesting the war and occupation where it counts: at the point of production. My campaign, the Power to the People Campaign, will stand with you on May 1st, all along the West Coast, and anyplace where working people take up your call to resist the war. We'll be with you on the picket line.
With gratitude for the courage and principles of the women and men of the West Coast docks, I hereby offer my total support for your action. In the days leading up to May 1st, and beyond, I pledge to make backing up the ILWU a central goal of my campaign. Please contact me to discuss how we can best assist in your heroic effort.
In Solidarity,
Cynthia McKinney
Candidate for President of the United States
Power To The People Coalition
Also see:
ILWU to Shut Down Ports May 1 Demanding End to War in Iraq, Afghanistan
tribes.tribe.net/nobloodfo...817def77c0
This has been distributed by Liberation News, subscribe free:
lists.riseup.net/www/info/...ation_news
Cool Earth Party
tribes.tribe.net/coolearth
Come to the May Day protest in San Francisco
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., May 1, followed by a rally at noon.
WHERE: Longshore Union Hall, corner of Mason and Beach (near Fisherman's Wharf).
WHAT: March to a rally at Justin Herman Plaza along the Embarcadero.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.ilwu.org/ and www.transportworkers.org/ or call (415) 776-8100.
Power to the Committee to Elect Cynthia McKinney for President
Post Office Box 311759 _ Atlanta, GA 31131-1759
Telephone 510-250-0729
www.RunCynthiaRun.org
April 2, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the ILWU,
Your powerful Longshore Caucus resolution, "For Workers' Action to Stop the War", and your decision to stop work on the West Coast docks May 1st, inspires all of us who have taken up the struggle to end the disastrous war and occupation of Iraq, foisted on us by the Republican administration, and continually funded without substantial objection by both the Democratic and Republican parties in Congress. Sadly, the Bush-Pelosi war policy is a formula for endless global conflict, deterioration of the rule of law among nations, and growing impoverishment, indebtedness and evisceration of workers' rights and civil liberties here at home.
While many unions pass resolution after resolution while doing little to actually stop the bloodshed, for generations the ILWU has shown that we can resist the war-mongering corporate politicians, and their profiteering attempts to divide the labor movement and weaken our capacity to organize and resist their destructive actions.
Once again, your union is setting a shining example for working people everywhere-as you did in 1978, when you refused to load bombs for the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile; in 1984, when you refused to move South African cargo to protest the racist apartheid government; in 1996, when you honored the picket line for striking dockworkers in Liverpool, England; in 1999, when you shut down the Pacific Coast to protest the World Trade Organization meeting in Seattle; in 2001, when you prepared a Coast-wide work stoppage in defense of five gallant longshoremen in Charleston, South Carolina, who were charged with felonies for walking a picket line; not to mention the numerous times that you have stopped trade on the West Coast waterfront in support of Black political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal.
I want you and your members to know that at least one 2008 Presidential candidate is proud to stand up publicly in full and unqualified support of your resolution to celebrate International Workers Day by protesting the war and occupation where it counts: at the point of production. My campaign, the Power to the People Campaign, will stand with you on May 1st, all along the West Coast, and anyplace where working people take up your call to resist the war. We'll be with you on the picket line.
With gratitude for the courage and principles of the women and men of the West Coast docks, I hereby offer my total support for your action. In the days leading up to May 1st, and beyond, I pledge to make backing up the ILWU a central goal of my campaign. Please contact me to discuss how we can best assist in your heroic effort.
In Solidarity,
Cynthia McKinney
Candidate for President of the United States
Power To The People Coalition
Also see:
ILWU to Shut Down Ports May 1 Demanding End to War in Iraq, Afghanistan
tribes.tribe.net/nobloodfo...817def77c0
This has been distributed by Liberation News, subscribe free:
lists.riseup.net/www/info/...ation_news
Cool Earth Party
tribes.tribe.net/coolearth
Come to the May Day protest in San Francisco
WHEN: 10:30 a.m., May 1, followed by a rally at noon.
WHERE: Longshore Union Hall, corner of Mason and Beach (near Fisherman's Wharf).
WHAT: March to a rally at Justin Herman Plaza along the Embarcadero.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.ilwu.org/ and www.transportworkers.org/ or call (415) 776-8100.
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SF Bay Area
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