On Thursday, September 22, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union filed a civil rights lawsuit against Longview, Wash. law enforcement for their brutal treatment of longshore union members and supporters engaged in lawful protest and non-violent civil disobedience. The suit names Cowlitz County Sheriff Mark Nelson, Longview Police Chief Jim Duscha as well as the county and city.
One day after the suit was filed, the county prosecutor’s office finally announced it would charge an EGT affilliated driver with two felony charges of hit-and-run. This individual was caught on vido Aug. 29 in what appears to have been a deliberate attempt to run down picketers. For weeks after the incident, local law enforcement officials refused to take action.
Below is a message of solidarity sent by the ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Western Region Coordinator Richard Becker to ILWU International President Robert McEllrath.
September 26, 2011
Dear Brothers and Sisters of the ILWU,
The ANSWER – Act Now to Stop War & End Racism – Coalition and its chapters across the country stand in full solidarity with our brothers and sisters of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in your just struggle against the union-busting attacks by EGT and law enforcement in the Port of Longview, Washington. We are outraged by both the blatant contract violations by EGT and by the unprovoked attacks by the sheriff’s department on Local 21 members and ILWU international officers, including International President Robert McEllrath.
We demand that all the charges against ILWU members be dropped immediately, and that EGT adhere to its contractual obligations.
The ILWU has long been a pacesetter of the labor movement on the West Coast and across the country, and a champion of many just causes. An attack on the ILWU is an attack on the entire labor and people’s movement. An injury to one is indeed an injury to all.
Our activists across the U.S. are closely following the Longview struggle. Please do not hesitate to call upon us for any support that is needed.
Yours in solidarity,
Richard Becker
Western Region Coordinator
ANSWER Coalition
