(Last revised January 8, 2004. This is a work in progress. Email comments and corrections to "daniel41" at "qaccess.net". See also Daniel Borgström's reports on other anti-war events in the San Francisco Bay Area.)
 

Several dozen people were injured on April 7th, 2003 when police fired less-lethal ammunition at protesters and dockworkers in the Port of Oakland. This incident was the most violent police response to the antiwar movement during the spring of 2003, and one might've expected it to be the end of antiwar activity in the city, but remarkably enough, the result was quite the opposite.

The antiwar people got together with the longshoremen's union (ILWU), held rallies and forums in the community, spoke to the city council and five weeks later returned to the port for a successful demonstration in defense of First Amendment rights. Sometimes the good guys do win.

The following is a 30,000 word account by one of protesters who participated in the events from April 7th to May 12th.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

THAT MORNING IN THE PORT
WE MARCH TO CITY HALL
PROTESTERS' ACCOUNTS OF THE ATTACK
MAYOR BROWN SPEAKS TO THE PRESS
WE ADDRESS A CITY COUNCIL MEETING
DURING THE RECESS
THE REST OF THE HEARING
SOME REFLECTIONS
EVIDENCE OF PREPLANNING EMERGES
ACTIONS AGAINST OTHER WAR PROFITEERS
THE PORT GIVES GOOD NEIGHBOR AWARDS
THE LABOR UNIONS HOLD A RALLY
A COMMUNITY FORUM ON POLICE VIOLENCE
A FORMAL HEARING AT THE CITY COUNCIL
NEGOTIATING WITH THE POLICE
MAY 12TH - WE RETURN TO THE PORT
FOUR CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SHARED THE RISKS
WEATHER NEVER ENDS
APPENDIX