On April 7, 2003, in Oakland, California, United States, an anti-war protest occurred at the Port of Oakland. The non-violent protest was organized by Direct Action to Stop the War, a Bay Area peace group, which was protesting against American President Lines, alleging the company shipped arms and supplies for the U.S. military and was profiting from the war on Iraq.[1]

The incident

The police fired wooden dowels projectiles, sting balls, concussion grenades, tear gas and other non-lethal weapons when protesters at the gates of two shipping lines at the port refused an order to disperse. Longshoremen and protestors were injured in the exchange.[2]

Reverberations

The next month after the incident, on May 13, Direct Action to Stop the War again led a march of anti-war activists and community leaders from the West Oakland BART Station to five port gates, and the event remained peaceful.[3][4]

Criminal charges against 24 activists and one longshoreman were brought and later dropped, and in February, 2005 the Oakland City Council paid $154,000 to 24 people who claimed they were hurt in the demonstration.[5] In 2006, The New York Times reported upon an over $2 million settlement for "dozens of payouts" stemming from the incident, the reported size of the awards from the City ranging from $5,000 to $500,000.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "CNN.com - Oakland antiwar protest gets ugly - Apr. 8, 2003". CNN. April 8, 2003. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Police Violence Shocks Activists, Others at Port of Oakland Protest". San Jose Mercury News. April 7, 2003. Archived from the original on October 28, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
  3. ↑ City, Bay (May 13, 2003). "Anti-war protesters picketing at Port of Oakland - SFGate". SFGate.com. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Oakland dockers honour anti-war picket lines". Retrieved April 25, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Criminal charges against 24 activists and one longshoreman were brought and later dropped". Archived from the original on 2013-04-25. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  6. ↑ Marshall, Carolyn (March 20, 2006). "Oakland Nears Final Payouts for Protesters Hurt by Police - New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved November 2, 2011.
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