Vicious Police Attack on IWW Solidarity March in Providence, Rhode Island

On Saturday, August 11, 2007, the Providence wobblies organized a march on Jackie's Galaxy, which is a restaurant chain that is being supplied by HWH in New York City, a supplier who is notorious for its slave labor conditions of up to 110 hours per week without basic labor rights (minimum wage and overtime).

Roughly 30-40 wobblies and supporters (including Providence and Boston SDSers) were marching towards Jackie's Galaxy in North Providence when the police began following them en mass. They told the marches to move to the sidewalk, while this was initially ignored, the marchers listened to the police and began slowly moving to the sidewalk.

The police then surrounded the marchers in their squad cars and began getting out. With the police in full force, they began attacking the marchers, one fellow worker, Alex Svoboda, was pinned down by the police during her arrest and suffered a broken and dislocated leg and ruptured blood vessel in the knee. These injuries will require at least two surgeries and extensive rehab and even then may not completely repair the damage. Jason, another wob, was arrested during the police' attack. Ashley, a supporter from Boston, was also severely maced during the attack, suffered chemical burns and required medical treatment.

Despite this, the marchers continued on to Jackie's Galaxy and eventually spoke with the owner who at first promised he had switched suppliers and now denies doing business with HWH although he has no documentation to prove either claim. Business at Jackie's Galaxy ceased completely during the duration of the action and most bystanders were outraged that Jackie's would support the crimes of HWH/Dragonland.

The Providence wobblies and other supporters of workers' rights will continue their pressure on Jackies Galaxy until they stop doing business with the slave labor shop HWH/Dragonland or until basic rights, including the right to organize, are instated at HWH/Dragonland.

In the meantime they need your support! Alex Svoboda is charged with 3 felony counts of assaulting a police officer as well as two misdemeanors and will be unable to work for a significant period time as a result of her injuries. Money will be needed to provide Alex and Jason with legal support and also to help with the medical bills and loss of income Alex will suffer as a result of the brutality of the North Providence Police. Please send in any donation that you, or your organization can afford to the Providence General Membership Branch (address below) or contact Mark Bray at 201-669-0714 or Billy Randel at 646-645-6284.

You can also do your part at pressuring the Mayor and Police Chief of North Providence (contact info below) to at the very least, formally apologizing to the marchers, dropping all baseless charges and paying for the injuries and lose of income that were unjustly caused.

Photos of the action and the brutal assault can be found here:

PO box 5795

Providence R.I.

02903

North Providence Mayor:

Charles A. Lombardi

North Providence Town Hall

2000 Smith Street

North Providence, RI 02911

Telephone: (401) 232-0900, ext. 226

Fax: (401) 232-3434

Police Chief:

Ernest C. Spaziano

North Providence Police Department

1967 Mineral Spring Ave.

North Providence, R.I. 02904

Business line: 401-233-1433

Fax number: 401-233-1438

IWW Urges Attorney General Lynch to Investigate Police Brutality

In response to the North Providence Police's brutal attack on an IWW picket on August 11, 2007, the IWW and Jason Friedmutter have issued a statement and list of demands to the AG of RI Patrick Lynch. Included in these demands is a request for a full investigation into the actions of the NPPD, all charges against Friedmutter and Alex Svoboda be dropped, as well as financial enumerations of several types.

   

The Providence IWW has learnt that the city of North Providence has released a press statement, begun an internal investigation and dropped Svoboda's charges to misdemeanors from felonies. While these are all clear victories in favor of Svoboda, Friedmutter and the IWW, this is simply not enough. The letter to the AG provides for a deadline of 12 PM on Thursday August 16 for Lynch to respond, as well as requests a full investigation by the AG regardless of the city of North Providence's actions.

   

Members and supporters of the IWW will be at the Attorney General's office at 150 South Main Street on August 16 at 2 PM to follow up on our demands and request that the AG have an audience with an IWW delegation.

   

Alex Svoboda is currently recovering from her second operation to repair arterial damage and is awaiting her third operation at RI Hospital. She is in constant pain but her spirits are high and she believes that her cause is just.

VIDEO COVERAGE:

• http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/14/1352231&mode=thread&tid=25

(see doug's snippet too)

PROVIDENCE JOURNAL

(front page on internet and on the newspaper?)

We are working day and night (literally), every second, for Alex and the union.