NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I.--Approximately 250 people from across the region rallied here August 26 to protest the attack by North Providence police on a labor rights march that resulted in serious injuries to 22-year-old activist Alexandra Svoboda.
The rally was sponsored by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and included members of several area unions and progressive organizations.
Police severely broke Svoboda's leg on August 11 when they moved in to forcibly arrest marchers during an IWW-sponsored picket of Jacky's Galaxy restaurant. Until recently, Jacky's Galaxy was supplied by the New York-based sweatshop HWH/Dragon Land Trading. Eyewitnesses confirm that the marchers were complying with instructions to move off the street when police charged without warning.
Svoboda has since undergone at least four surgeries for the injuries to her leg, and has yet to begin orthopedic reconstruction of her knee. Perversely, she also has been charged with assaulting the officers who broke her leg!
Police brutality and misconduct are a major problem in Rhode Island. Just four days before the attack on Svoboda, a Brazilian immigrant died in the custody of the Woonsocket police when he was denied his anti-seizure medication. The American Civil Liberties Union has exposed systematic racial profiling in several of the state's police departments.
The rally was sponsored by the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) and included members of several area unions and progressive organizations.
Police severely broke Svoboda's leg on August 11 when they moved in to forcibly arrest marchers during an IWW-sponsored picket of Jacky's Galaxy restaurant. Until recently, Jacky's Galaxy was supplied by the New York-based sweatshop HWH/Dragon Land Trading. Eyewitnesses confirm that the marchers were complying with instructions to move off the street when police charged without warning.
Svoboda has since undergone at least four surgeries for the injuries to her leg, and has yet to begin orthopedic reconstruction of her knee. Perversely, she also has been charged with assaulting the officers who broke her leg!
Police brutality and misconduct are a major problem in Rhode Island. Just four days before the attack on Svoboda, a Brazilian immigrant died in the custody of the Woonsocket police when he was denied his anti-seizure medication. The American Civil Liberties Union has exposed systematic racial profiling in several of the state's police departments.
I was present at the beginning of this peaceful gathering. I saw the police officers watching; almost waiting eagerly to jump at something. We were all gathered, talking with one another, passively and non-violently showing our resistance to the issue at hand. I left before the brutality took place. I couldn't even believe it when I heard what had happened... What will come next?
"Just as despair can come to one only from other human beings, hope, too, can be given to one only by other human beings." -Elie Wiesel
"An injury to one is an injury to all" -IWW
Info provided by: http://socialistworker.org/2007-2/642/642_15_NewsAndReports.shtml
More photos available: http://jonathanmcintosh.smugmug.com/gallery/3293537_JGVms
More photos available: http://jonathanmcintosh.smugmug.com/gallery/3293537_JGVms
1 comment:
What an experience ... I wonder if the Union workers expected the violence ... often times passive resistance turns violent ... sometimes it is the catalyst ...
It seems that in some places police violence towards immigrants and the under classes is on the rise.
Thank you for bringing this to us.
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