UNITING OUR COMMUNITIES AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY: A LABOR, BLACK & BROWN PROPOSAL

Young Mario Romero, 21, was assassinated by Vallejo Police Officer Dustin B. Joseph. Mario was fired upon 31 times while sitting in his car with his brother-in-law, Joseph Johnson, in front of his house on the morning of September 2, 2012. Witnesses say Mario and Joseph were shot by the police, hands up, pleading Dont shoot! Joseph survived this deadly assault with only one gunshot wound because of Marios bullet-riddled body slumping over Josephs body. The police immediately engaged in re-arranging the crime scene, and told lies about Mario and Joseph possessing drugs and a pellet gun (the type of pellet gun that the police found on Mario is the same type used by the Vallejo Police Department for training). They also labeled Mario as a gang member. The Vallejo Mayor, Osby Davis, and the Vallejo City Council have been dispassionately explaining to the grieving family the necessity of jumping through all of the bureaucratic hoops of their cover-up system, trying to cajole and wish this determined family away.

Incidences of Intimidation & Harrassment

We are deeply concerned and frustrated. Witnesses to the brutal murder include family members and friends. Ms. Cynthia Mitchell, mother of Mario Romero, has informed us that the Vallejo Police have been stalking, harassing and visiting attempts of intimidation against her family and friends. They are not to be deterred, and are determined to see Justice! City administrators and police continue to harass, intimidate and seriously hinder those who are seeking answers in various cases of police terrorism. Here are just 3 of many recent incidences of harassment. In November 2012, Topaz Kenney-DuBois, an S.E.I.U. member, was forcibly removed from the Vallejo City Council Chambers by Vallejo police while speaking out against an agenda item re increasing the Police Chiefs salary (during a term of over 8 murders by the Vallejo Police). A community supporter of the Romero family who came to her aid was arrested by the Vallejo Police. In December 2012, two rank and file members of the Oakland Education Association were assaulted by Oakland police while walking to their cars in the OEA parking lot following a meeting in which the OEA membership heard testimony by Adam Blueford, father of Alan Blueford, who was profiled, chased, and killed by Oakland Police in May 2012. On New Years Eve 2012, several members of the Justice for Alan Blueford (JAB) Coalition were constantly harassed and intimidated by Oakland Police and Fox Theater security staff while lawfully leafleting outside the Fox Theater. Despite the fact that JAB had been given permission to have an information table inside the event, a JAB member with a paid ticket was prohibited from entering the event with flyers. JAB later learned that Fox Theater staff had been pressured by Oakland Police not to allow any JAB leafleting activity. The system isn't working for the people, and the police are out of control. Something has to be done. In Vallejo. In the Bay Area. Throughout the country.

Our Question
We remember the October, 2010 ILWU-organized Bay Area port shut down for Justice for Oscar Grant. How can we build a movement like this, the unions and the Black and Brown communities, united to build political strikes against police murder and violence, which would also require organizing workers defense guards who aid and protect brave families who refuse to be victimized, but instead fight back? These resistant families are banding together, trying to build support for their cause and the causes of others. (OVER) REVISED 1/11/2013 LABOR DONATED

Our Answer
We believe the labor unions can and should initiate a United Front, consisting of unions, organizations of the Black and Brown communities, workers organizations in general, and the youth. This kind of United Front is what has been sorely needed, and has been sorely missed, since the October 23,, 2010 port shut down. This is the kind of organized movement that families like the Family of James Rivera, in Stockton, needs for assistance. The same is true for the family of Rahiem Brown, Kenneth Harding Jr., Alan Blueford, Derrick Gaines, and Mario Romero. There is a " Mothers Movement" budding across the country that needs this kind of movement and muscle. We believe that working people of all colors can do this. What was started on October 23, 2010, can be built into a broader, long-term and effective movement today!

Our Proposal
WHEREAS: The successful shut-down of the Port of Oakland on October 23, 2010 is an example of organized workers, the community, and young people demonstrating their power to interrupt the flow of money through an oppressive capitalist system that is protected by corrupt and abusive police; and WHEREAS: Our youth continue to be gunned down by various police agencies and vigilantes, and grieving families are being targeted and harassed; and WHEREAS: The Brown community faces constant scrutiny, intimidation, imprisonment and deportation by La Migra (ICE and all those involved in immigration law enforcement), and by local implementation of racist practices in the workplace such as E-Verify; and WHEREAS: Efforts to create police accountability and reform through measures such as community oversight committees and negotiated agreements have been entirely ineffective and in fact underscore the false notion that the corrupt police system will either monitor its own behavior or be responsive to community oversight. WE PROPOSE: That every motivated labor union, cognizant of the fact that its workers live, shop, dine, go to school and go to church in communities that are continually intimidated and brutalized by the police, delegate at least two (2) members to attend a meeting to organize a United Front consisting of labor, workers organizations in general, Black and Brown community organizations and young people. WE PROPOSE: That this United Front establish a Labor - Community Political Strike/Shut Down Committee. This committee will investigate where, when, and how to apply the political strike, and will seek to organize mass political support. WE PROPOSE: That this United Front establish committees for self-defense training, preparation, and organizing workers defense guards consisting of labor and community self-defense volunteers (vetted by the community organizations recommending them). These committees will develop the most appropriate, effective tactics for defending families and communities under attack by the police.

What You Can Do

If you are a member of a union, please consider introducing this proposal, or a similar proposal at your union meeting. LBB will be more than happy to support and assist such efforts. You can endorse this proposal by contacting Labor, Black & Brown: laborblackbrown@yahoo.com
REVISED 1/11/2013 LABOR DONATED