WI BOPM interviewed some of those that came to Manitowoc, WI Dec. 10 to support the striking machinists at the Manitowoc Co. In their own words:

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Joe Shansky, Voces de la Frontera, www.vdlf.org:

“We came up to Manitowoc because an attack on union workers is at attack on immigrants, an attack on Blacks, Latinos, an attack on everybody. The attack on the Machinists is representing a much bigger agenda that’s happening in Wisconsin right now which is a concerted effort to drive down working people of all types and all colors. It’s important to show that all communities are here in solidarity with the Machinists that are here fighting for their own rights and that we’re going to show up instantly whenever there’s an attack on one of us. This is an awakening, people have woken up. I’ve never seen so much solidarity amongst our side, people who are working to defend our rights. Madison was a trigger for sure. Madison was a great opportunity for all of these people who have been working, many of us for most of our lives, for these different causes to come together and unite. In concert with the Occupy movement, there’s just something in the air these days that people are not going to take oppression anymore. This is a really brilliant turn out. It’s nice to see words getting put into action.”

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Mahlon Mitchell, President of the Wisconsin Firefighters Association:

http://www.wi-state-firefighters.org/

“We feel it’s important to be here for solidarity. They stood with us, now it’s our turn to stand with them and we’re going to continue to be here until the job is done. It’s a great crowd today, a lot of energy. It just shows you that our spirits are not dead. Everything that’s happened from February in Madison until now, it’s carried over to the entire state. For that matter it’s carried across the entire nation. That’s why we’re seeing Occupy Wall Street, why we’re seeing Occupy D.C. And now we’re occupying Manitowoc.”

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Rachel Matteson, Occupy Milwaukee:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Milwaukee/145292382232714

“We came out here to support the 99 percent and the struggle of these strikers going on here. It’s our struggle as well. We came here to back them up. I think Occupy needs to start making these connections with these workers’ movements and oppressed nationalities. It’s the struggle of people across the country we’re facing as a result of the one percent having complete economic and political control of the country. We need to stand and fight back as the 99 percent so that’s why we’re here.”

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Danielle Meyer, Occupy Milwaukee:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Milwaukee/145292382232714

“I think this march and rally is absolutely amazing. I love seeing so many people out here supporting this movement. I really believe it’s important that we all stand together. It’s not just their struggle, it’s our struggle and we all need to unite together because we’re all fighting the same people, the one percent. And we of the 99 percent need to be here and stand with each other in our time of need.”

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http://ivaw.org/blog/military-veterans-join-99-december-12-west-coast-port-shutdown

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http://occupysf.org/

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These Dec. 10 photos are from Sister Sue Ruggles, AFT Local 212 at MATC (Milwaukee Area Technical College):

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44933821@N04/sets/72157628377593781/

Solidarity march for Machinists Local 516 members, Manitowoc, WI Dec. 10, 2011. / Photo: Sue Ruggles, AFT Local 212

Strike Assistance Fund:
MCI Strike Fund c/o Machinists Local 516
P. O. Box 222, Manitowoc, WI 54221-0222

For more information: http://www.iamlodge516.org/

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http://westcoastportshutdown.org/content/tokyo-general-union-supports-west-coast-port-shutdown

Dec. 12 Coordinated Port Blockade Actions & Schedules:

http://westcoastportshutdown.org/content/coordinated-port-blockade-actions-schedules

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Morello in WI 2-21-2011:

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Bail Out the People Statement:

Battle lines have formed as the West Coast Occupy movements, from San Diego to Alaska, flex their collective muscle against the federally coordinated, brutal attacks targeting the Occupy movements across the country. They are organizing for blockades of West Coast ports on Dec. 12 in San Diego; Los Angeles/Long Beach; Port Hueneme, CA (central coast); Oakland; Portland, Ore.; Seattle; Tacoma, Wash.; and possibly more. Solidarity actions have been called by OWS in New York and by Occupy movements inland locations, as well.

See rest of statement at:

http://www.bailoutpeople.org/WestCoastPortShutdown.html

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Occupy Oakland West Coast Port Blockade 12/9/11 Press Conference:

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/12/09/18702267.php

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For more information on the blockade:

http://westcoastportshutdown.org/

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Occupy Oakland:

http://www.occupyoakland.org/

Oakland Nov. 2, 2011.

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In an unprecedented display of the power of the working class, thousands of labor, community and student supporters joined a solidarity rally and march in Manitowoc, WI Dec. 10 to support striking members of Machinists Local 516. Local 516 members are on strike against the Manitowoc Co. because the company wants to bust their union by making the company an “open shop.” The Machinists and their supporters as one issued their answer to the company and the rest of Wall Street: “our union will not be busted!”

Supporters of the striking machinists rallied at Municipal Baseball Field in Manitowoc where an impressive list of public and private sector union leaders and community supporters spoke before a sea of thousands of labor, community and student supporters hoisting union banners and signs while wearing their union and labor-related gear. Phil Neuenfeldt, president of the WI AFL-CIO, chaired the rally and began by bringing to the main stage the fighting strikers of Machinists Local 516. Many union representatives at the rally gave monetary contributions to Local 516 from their unions or from collections taken up that day in cars or buses. Major caravans came from Milwaukee, Madison, the Fox Valley (Fondulac-Oshkosh-Appleton, Neenah-Menasha), the Lakeshore area (Manitowoc-Sheboygan), Green Bay and many other locations.

“We feel it’s important to be here for solidarity.They stood with us, now it’s our turn to stand with them and we’re going to continue to be here until the job is done,” Mahlon Mitchell, President of the Wisconsin Firefighters Association told WI BOPM Dec. 10.

After the rally, a dynamic blocks-long march to the headquarters of Manitowoc Co. which shut down lanes of Dewey Street, featured union delegations from Manitowoc County and across the state and representatives from labor councils and federations from across the state and beyond; of Voces de la Frontera, a Milwaukee-based immigrant rights worker organization; Occupy Milwaukee; the South Central Federation Of Labor; the Wisconsin Bail Out The People Movement and many others.

Chanting slogans such as “What’s Disgusting?: Union Busting,” “They say cut back, we say fight back,” and “Si Se Puede (Yes, We Can),” and singing union songs led by mostly women youth and students, the marchers joined in a moving picket line in front of the company headquarters before heading back to the park.

“It’s a great crowd today, a lot of energy. It just shows you that our spirits are not dead. Everything that’s happened from February in Madison until now, it’s carried over to the entire state. For that matter it’s carried across the entire nation. That’s why we’re seeing Occupy Wall Street, why we’re seeing Occupy D.C. And now we’re occupying Manitowoc,” said Mitchell.

Manitowoc, a city of 32,000, has rarely if ever, seen this type of mass-based progressive solidarity activity. It promises to continue as countless pledges of support were given to Local 516 to stand shoulder-to shoulder with them in their fight against the greedy, union-busting Manitowoc Co.

The next strike picket line begins at 6 a.m. Monday, Dec. 12. Monday-Friday picket lines are from 6 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday is from 6 a.m.-12 noon. If visiting the picket line, if you can, bring hot beverages such as coffee, cider, snacks etc. If you can’t make it to the picket line, there are many ways to support Local 516 from monetary contributions, solidarity statements and resolutions, stopping by the union hall, posting articles and/or photos to social media, and much more.

Contact Local 516 or the WI AFL-CIO directly:

http://www.iamlodge516.org/

http://wisaflcio.typepad.com/

WI BOPM Dec. 10 Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.211667622246095.53986.151521811594010&type=1

WI AFL-CIO Dec. 10 Photos:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150412385850669.351847.139173095668&type=1

Striking Machinists Local 516 members marching with thousands of their sisters and brothers in Manitowoc, WI Dec. 10, 2011.

Brother Mahlon Mitchell, president of the Wisconsin Firefighters Association expresses his union's solidarity with Machinists Local 516 and all progressive labor-community-student organizations at solidarity rally in Manitowoc Dec. 10.

Machinists Local 516 members carrying WI Bail Out The People Movement banner in Manitowoc solidarity march Dec. 10.

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http://www.freemumia.com/

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Washington, DC | www.adc.org | December 9, 2011 – The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) calls on its membership to take action and counter recent calls by fringe individuals and groups pressuring advertisers to drop spots on All-American Muslim, a new series airing on The Learning Channel (TLC).

All-American Muslim takes a look at life in Dearborn, Michigan — home to the largest mosque in the United States and the largest concentration of Arab Americans — through the lens of five Arab American Muslim families. Each episode offers an intimate look at the customs and celebrations, misconceptions and conflicts these families face outside and within their own community.

According to the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the calls for an advertiser boycott are coming from Internet hate sites like “Bare Naked Islam,” which recently featured a number of threats of violence targeting U.S. and European mosques, and right-wing groups such as the Florida Family Association and American Decency.

Sadly corporations, such as Lowe’s, have succumbed to the idiocracy of such garbage campaigns, which are orchestrated by groups and organizations which lack credibility, legitimacy, and are founded on the basic notions of bigotry and racism reminiscent of a shameful era in this country’s history.

ADC Legal Director Abed Ayoub states, “The Muslim-American community has nearly $200 billion dollars in spending power — one of the highest totals for any minority group in the United States. At a time when many corporations are courting the American-Muslim market, it makes absolutely no sense at all that any corporation, including Lowe’s — that have multiple locations in metropolitan areas with high Arab and Muslim American populations.”

Take Action Now!

ADC is asking you to contact Lowe’s and voice your concern!

Contact Lowe’s:

Phone: 1-866-900-4650

Email: execustservice@lowes.com

Mail: Lowe’s Companies, Mail Code CON8, 1605 Curtis Bridge Road, Wilkesboro, NC 28697

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NOTE TO EDITORS: The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), which is non-profit, non-sectarian and non-partisan, is the largest grassroots Arab-American civil rights and civil liberties organization in the United States. It was founded in 1980 by former Senator James Abourezk. ADC has a national network of chapters and members in all 50 states.

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