August 11th 2008 - One Year Since Vicious Attack On IWW Solidarity Picket In N. Providence, RI

On August 11 2007, while marching in solidarity with our union
sisters and brothers of the Industrial Workers of the world (IWW) 460/640
campaign in NYC, the Providence, RI IWW branch was attacked by the out of
control North Providence Police force. During the attack Providence IWW
member Alexandra Svoboda was brutally maimed by officers of the NPPD and
arrested. Jason Friedmutter, also of the Providence IWW branch was
arrested as well. Alex has faced a long road to recovery that she is still
on. Alex and Jason both face dubious criminal charges that the City of
North Providence has drummed up in order to thwart Alex from receiving
justice and to protect their violent, inexperienced police force.
Included in this article is a brief, but all encompassing account of
August 11, ‘07, Alex’s injuries and recovery, Alex and Jason’s legal
status at the time of this writing.
       Also included are ways to help Alex and Jason, like coming to
Providence on 8/10/08 in support of the Providence IWW, fundraising for exorbitant
legal and medical expenses and filling out and passing on to others to
complete, the letter of support. Their will be several fundraisers here in
Providence, RI, and scheduling of those will be available soon. For more
info contact the branch at ProvidenceIWW@gmail.com or Jason @ 646-732-6319
or Alex @ 402-639-4171.

What is the IWW? The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) is a fighting
labor union that believes that the interests of labor can be fully served
only when working people are united as a class. It wants to see all on the
same job united, all in the same industry in one union, all who work for
wages in one big union. All can join regardless of race, gender,
nationality or legal status.

The IWW differs sharply from the position of other unions in that, we
believe the problems of the working class can not be solved by begging
crumbs from employers or praying to politicians for favors. While it
fights for better conditions today, the IWW insists that working people
are entitled to everything they produce, instead of a meager share. There
will be insecurity and hunger among those who toil for as long as there is
an employing class that benefits from low wages and evil working
conditions. The IWW holds that there can be no solution to industrial
warfare, no end to injustice and want, until the profit system itself is
abolished. (IWW.org for more)

Contents:
I. Account of 8/11/07, where Alex, Jason and the branch are at now. II.
How to help Alex, Jason and the Pvd IWW
III. Letter of Support

I.
This August marks the one year anniversary of the vicious police attack on
an Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) solidarity march in North
Providence, RI. On Saturday August 11 of 2007, approximately 35 Rhode
Island IWWs and supporters began a solidarity march organized on a local
New England chain restaurant, Jackie’s Galaxie. The Providence IWW accused
Jackie’s of openly and knowingly supporting the Queens, NY based
HWH/Dragonland. a dry goods supplier notorious for its slave labor
conditions of 100 hours per week, sub minimum wages and no overtime or
benefits. Many of the workers there are undocumented immigrants and have
few places to go for help with workplace problems. HWH/Dragonland workers
had organized themselves under the “460/640″ IWW campaign in New York
City, but collective bargaining had been marred by lockouts and illegal
activity by HWH bosses.

En route to the Jackie’s Galaxie in North Providence, RI, the
demonstrators were cordoned onto the sidewalk by the North Providence
Police. With violence in their eyes from the start, North Providence
Police officers began to shove and manhandle the demonstrators. The
situation quickly escalated into a Police Riot and came to a head when
policemen went after Providence IWW member Alexandra Svoboda. Three
officers attacked her simultaneously, one brutally kicking out her knee
and sending Alex to the ground. Even though the policemen knew the obvious
seriousness of the heinous act they had just committed, one officer
aggressively sat on and handcuffed Alex while others pepper sprayed
another demonstrator and arrested Jason Friedmutter, also a Providence IWW
member.

Shortly thereafter, Jason was taken to a North Providence police station
and Alex was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. Alex underwent emergency
surgery the evening of the 11th to save her leg. Alex ultimately sustained
a torn popliteal artery in her knee, a fractured tibia and fibia, multiple
torn ligaments, and tears in both meniscus. The attack also damaged the
nerves from her knee down. Doctors stated that if the surgery gone as well
as it did, plans for amputation would have ensued.

Despite the police attack, the Providence IWW finished its march,
confronting Jackie Kho, the owner of Jackie’s Galaxie, face to face and
only weeks later, pressured him to drop HWH/Dragonland for good. The
widespread media coverage of the event and continued IWW organizing
eventually brought about four more restaurants dropping HWH.

Alex spent two weeks in the hospital that August undergoing a total of
four operations to replace her damaged artery and stabilize her knee.
Since then, Alex has done hundreds of hours physical therapy, both at her
therapists office and at home. Fortunately, Alex has had excellent health
care that covers the bulk of exorbitant medical expenses.

To add insult to injury, the city of North Providence brought charges
against both Alex and Jason. Alex’s original charges were three felony
counts of assaulting an officer, one count of resisting arrest and one
count of disorderly conduct. Alex’s three felony charges have since been
dropped to misdemeanors. Jason faces one count of obstruction of justice.

Alex and Jason’s cases were going through pre trial in Rhode Island’s
District Court system, but the process stalled out and their cases have
been moved to RI Superior Court for a more expedient trial. Due to RI law,
Alex must undergo the humiliation of a criminal trial before she can bring
a lawsuit against North Providence for damages done to her. Alex’s three
operations and hospital stay cost over $100,000 (with more operations in
the fall), her ongoing physical therapy has cost thousands, and Alex has
not been able to work for more than ten months. It would not even be
possible to quantify the hours and hours on end Alex has spent in pain,
rehabilitating, undergoing painful medical procedures and enduring severe
nerve pangs and muscle spasms.

However, Alex, a long time bicycle enthusiast, went for her first bike
ride in nearly ten months recently and has made great progress,
unrelentingly working towards full recovery. Alex also continues to
organize for the rights of immigrant and marginalized workers alongside
fellow Providence IWW and community members, her determination has only
grown stronger.

This August 11th, 2008 will be one year since the North Providence Police
attack on the RI IWW. This year we will send a message to the Police and
City of North Providence as well as to the State of Rhode Island that:

The Police brutality and egregiously inappropriate level of force used on
8/11/07 not be tolerated by the North Providence Police, City of North
Providence or RI AG Patrick Lynch.

All charges against Alexandra Svoboda and Jason Friedmutter are to be
dropped immediately and in full.

Ms. Svoboda should be fully compensated for all medical and financial
damages, all physical and emotional pain and suffering visited upon her by
the actions of NPPD officers.

The governing bodies and law enforcement of RI respect ALL people’s rights
to work, organize themselves and fight oppression, regardless of color,
gender or legal status.

What you can do to help:

Come to Providence, RI August 10th, 2008 and join the Providence IWW and
its supporters in making our message heard.

Send donations or organize a fundraiser; Alex and Jason need up to $50,000
just for legal fees to fight these unjust charges.

Write to the Police Chief of North Providence, Mayor of North Providence
and AG of RI, let them know that you stand in firm solidarity with Alex
and Jason and that our message must be heard.

Organize with the IWW, organize in your community, in your workplace, in
your home. Help others in their struggle and join those in your own
struggle and we can create the new world in the shell of the old.

With Solidarity and Sincerest Thanks,
The Providence, RI General Membership Branch of the Industrial Workers of
the World

Alexandra Svoboda and Jason Friedmutter

II.
Supporting Alex and Jason

Alex, Jason and the Providence IWW branch greatly appreciate all the
support we have received in the past from people and organizations across
the world.

The first and largest priority of the Providence IWW is the physical and
emotional well being of Alex. The ability of Alex to receive justice and
well as take the City of North Providence to court on civil liability is
contingent on Alex and Jason winning their cases. We must help them win.

Their cases are expected to go to trial the Fall/Winter of ‘08 or ‘09.
Alex and Jason’s lawyers are going to need up to and over $50,000.

Fortunately, Alex has medical coverage that has deferred the cost of
operations she has had (over $120,000). However, Alex has not been able to
work and has had to pay hundreds of dollars for medicine, painkillers and
physical therapy treatments.

Alex and Jason are able to attend fundraising events in the North East
region, and would be more than happy to send statements of thanks and
solidarity for events them or other members of the Providence branch
cannot attend. All donations can be made out to the “Alexandra Sovoboda
Fund” and sent to the branch P.O. Box, listed below.

The Providence IWW branch has three special $1, $5 and $10 IWW assessment
stamps that IWW delegates can sell to IWW members and other supporters of
Alex and Jason’s legal defense fund.

This summer the Providence IWW and supporters will be hosting several
fundraising events in Providence, RI, including a Pancake Breakfast,
Homebrew Beer Night and live music benefit show. We will also be having a
rally on Aug. 10th 2008.

Anyone interested in more information on the scheduling and details of
these events can contact the
branch at ProvidenceIWW@gmail.com or Jason @ 646-732-6319 or Alex @
402-639-4171.

Included in this packet is a form letter addressed to city, police and
state officials of RI. We want to build public support of the IWW and Alex
and Jason in this case. Please take this appeal for support to your
membership base and anyone who wants to help. The completed letters can be
sent back to the Providence IWW branch for dispersal. Our mailing address
is Providence IWW; P.O. Box 5795; Providence, RI 02903.

Thanks and much Solidarity,
The Providence, RI Branch of the Industrial Workers of the World

III.
Ernest Spaziano NPPD Chief of Police
1967 Mineral Spring Avenue
North Providence, RI 02904
Phone: (401) 233-1433

Charles A. Lombardi
North Providence Mayor’s Office
200 Smith St.
North Providence, RI 02911
Phone: (401) 232-0900, ext. 226

Patrick Lynch Office of the Attorney General, RI
150 S. Main St.
Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 274-4400

Chief Spaziano, Mayor Lombardi, AG Lynch,
On August 11th 2007 during a peaceful labor solidarity march organized by
the Providence, RI branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW),
North Providence Police Officers used completely inappropriate tactics and
force on IWW members present, especially Alexandra Svoboda and Jason
Friedmutter. The police attack resulted in the maiming of Ms. Svoboda’s
left leg and the arrest of both she and Jason Friedmutter. This
inappropriate use of violence demonstrates the North Providence Police
Department’s lack of experience and training in dealing with peaceful
public demonstrations. I stand in full solidarity with the IWW’s right to
peaceably demonstrate and its assertion that both Alexandra Svoboda and
Jason Friedmutter have had serious injustices done upon them by the North
Providence Police Department.

I join the Providence IWW in its message:
The Police brutality and inappropriate level of force used on 8/11/07 not
be tolerated by the North Providence Police, City of North Providence or
AG Patrick Lynch.

All Charges Against Alexandra Svoboda and Jason Friedmutter be dropped
immediately and in full.

Ms. Svoboda should be fully compensated for all medical and financial
damages, all physical and emotional pain and suffering visited upon her by
the actions of NPPD officers.
Sincerely,
______________________________