Berkeley Workers march for Human Dignity

Here we see a gathering of USA Citizens who are defending the human rights of the fellow workers, whether or not these workers are themselves USA Citizens! 

The "Good 'ol boys" in the Fascist corporate boardrooms are in fear when they see this. The Workers have come back, and are UNITING!
Labor Rights (and Civil Rights) are being abolished across the USA, and the power of the people will overcome domestic Fascism. It's the only chance we have in this land of tyrannical plutocracy!

2012-02-17 "Update to the Occupistas of Concord" from Frank Runninghorse
Frank Runninghorse is a founder of Occupy Concord and the Diablo Valley SDS / MDS
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On workday Friday 2/17/12 over 500 people gathered and 450 marched from downtown Berkeley into the industrial blue collar district to protest the firing of 200 workers Latino without documents. The protest was co-sponsored by the Occupy movement including Occupy Oakland & Occupy Concord.
SDS / MDS [Students & Movement 4 a Democratic Society] also endorsed the action. MDS / SDS brought more than 100 picket signs, which articulated popular demands and were quickly snatched up and carried by the demographically diverse protesters which were nearly 50% Latino. Around a dozen folks from MDS / SDS / OGC / Occupy Concord participated in the wonderful positive protest action.
A similar firing of hundreds of undocumented Latino workers also occurred at the big steel mill out in Pittsburg, CA.
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OCCUPY CONCORD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
This Sunday, Feb.19, 10am -12 noon
Todos Santos Plaza



2012-02-17 "Fired Pacific Steel workers protest ICE raids" by Terry McSweeney from "KGO-TV/DT"
[http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8548302]
 BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) --  About 300 workers [Note from Runninghorse: I counted 450] at the Pacific Steel Casting plant are marching Friday to protest a raid by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The irony for workers is that Berkeley is known as a "sanctuary city" that says undocumented workers do not have to fear law enforcement.
The marchers left the old city hall building in Berkeley around 11 a.m. and headed down University, blocking some lanes of traffic. They were headed for the Pacific Steel Casting plant and along the way, they were protesting America's immigration policy, in particular, what they call "silent raids" by immigration officials.
Demonstrators at a pre-march rally held signs saying things like "Fight immigration bashing," "Schools not jails," and "Health care not warfare." Organizers say silent raids require employers to produce documents proving employees are in the country legally. They are just the kind of raid that led to the firing of 200 workers Pacific Steel Casting in Berkeley.
Protest leaders say the buck stops with President Obama's immigration policy. "So, we're arguing for papers for all, jobs for all. Distribute the wealth accordingly in order to fix this problem," said rally organizer Javier Amatrelladora. "And, Obama is following a corporate mainstream policy that severely attacking immigrants even though he co-ops the message of immigrants, using 'Si se puede,' yes we can, for his campaign."
Friday morning's rally was not an ad-lib event. It was organized with the blessing of the Berkeley Police Department who actually escorted the marchers down University Rd. Organizers said that when the demonstrators reached the casting plant, they planned to protest for about one hour, hoping to bring attention to what they feel is a very serious problem.


2012-02-17 "Fired Pacific Steel workers protest ICE raids"
[http://photos.mercurynews.com/2012/02/pacific-steel-workers-rally-and-protest-in-berkeley/4940/]
Former Pacific Steel workers and supporters rallied in front of the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. Afterwards, the group marched to the Pacific Steel plant on Second Street in Berkeley. 200 workers lost their jobs due to a recent immigration audit at Pacific Steel.
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Clergy members Father Rigoberto Calocarivas, Deborah Lee, Este Cantor and Tita Valeriano, left to right, join former Pacific Steel workers and supporters rally at Berkeley City Hall in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (Jane Tyska/Staff)
The Aztec indian group In Xochitl Incuicato performs during a rally of former Pacific Steel workers and supporters in front of the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. The group marched to the Pacific Steel plant on Second Street in Berkeley after the rally. 200 workers lost their jobs due to a recent immigration audit at Pacific Steel. (Jane Tyska/Staff)

Francisco Herrrera, of Oakland, plays guitar and sings during a rally on Second Street after a march from the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (Jane Tyska/Staff)

The Aztec indian group In Xochitl Incuicato performs during a rally of former Pacific Steel workers and supporters in front of the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (Jane Tyska/Staff)

Former Pacific Steel workers and supporters march down University Avenue after a rally in front of the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (Jane Tyska/Staff)

Former Pacific Steel workers and supporters march down University Avenue after a rally at in front of the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (Jane Tyska/Staff)

Father Rigoberto Calocarivas, of Oakland, right, joins former Pacific Steel workers and supporters as they march down University Avenue after a rally in front of the Berkeley City Council chamber building in Berkeley, Calif. on Friday, Feb. 17, 2012. (Jane Tyska/Staff)