Sept. 4, 2007
President Tom Clark - Local 10, ILWU AFL-CIO
To the President, Executive Board & Membership of Local 10;

It has come to my attention that the police have once again showed their ugly heads in the attack of two (2) members of Local 10. In this case, as I understand it, in this case it was the port police that turned to violence against our brothers attempting to earn a living for their family. Historically it has been this arm of the government ( the police ) that has been used in the initial attack on groups of workers. They come in and attack the workers and afterwards they file charges against the same workers. It is at this point that the another arm of the government ( the courts ) takes over the assault the on these workers.

This tactic is all to familiar. I was the same one employed on a group of workers in Charleston, SC in January of the year 2000. They later became known as the "Charleston Five".

I am deeply concerned with this most recent attack on our Brothers of Local 10. After finding out about this aggressive act, I started the process of informing the membership of ILA, Local 1422. Everyone that I have spoken to express much outrage. Local 1422 condemns this despicable act and in solid support of Local 10. Local 10 was there for the Charleston Five and Local 1422 will be there for you. "An injustice there is an injustice everywhere".

All of us in organized labor must unite to fight against this kind of organized attack on all working people. Local 1422 will be monitoring this situation very closely. It was through worldwide solidarity that victory was achieved in the Charleston Five struggle. Together we can win this struggle.

In Solidarity,
Leonard Riley