Chuck..........
You can search out exactly who the Direct Action Network is on the web. They were one of the main reasons there was ANY action taken by ANYONE at the WTO. They were one of the main organizers and planners for over a year. Also you should remember that the majority of people protesting at the WTO had NO affiliation with any organized labor.
The charges against the WTO concern a lot more than just organized labor. Those affiliated with D.A.N. etc, were there protesting for days, not just the few hours the ILWU (as a whole, not counting individual members from various locals) with the AFL-CIO and other labor groups. A lot of these people practiced aggressive confrontational protesting tactics. The vandalism was done by individuals and not sanctioned by any one group that I know of.
It was because of this aggressive confrontational protest that the WTO was stopped from meeting. Although the one day that organized labor did march did have an overall effect on things it was those that were there from start to finish that deserve the lion’s share of the credit for stopping the meeting. These are the ones that need your help.
If you have a problem with this type of protest than by all means do not give to the cause. But don’t follow the disinformation put out by the WTO and those that would benefit from the WTO that those charged are rioters, etc.
Tim35181
On 18 Jan Chuck Sharin “B” Seattle local #19 wrote:
The Direct Action Network (DAN) is calling upon Longshoremen to help defend WTO protesters with our financial contributions. I would want to know which protesters are we specifically talking about? The trouble maker illegal activity types or the peaceful non violent ones who were standing up for organized labor. Is there any way to know who the Direct Action Network is defending and what they alledgedly did? Say what you mean and mean what you say!!!!!
Chuck Sharin “B” Seattle local #19
