Cincinnati ATU Local 627: Stand with your class! Not the police!
Amalgamated Transit Union Local 674 Executive Council
On Friday, May 29, protest erupted in Cincinnati over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolic police. Protests here mirror actions elsewhere. This is a turning point in the struggle, not just against police brutality, but for a better world. A large, multiracial, working class crowd converged downtown and marched in the city shouting “George Floyd, say his Name! Breanna Taylor, say her name!” and “What do we want” Justice! When do we want it? Now!”
We were inspired to see this amazing show of solidarity and strength from everyday people in Cincinnati taking up the call for a better world. But we were discouraged to see Metro buses and drivers ready to be used by the police as potential prisoner transport vehicles. This is a clear example of the police, the sharp end of the capitalist class’s weapons against us, pitting working class people against other working class people. We shouldn’t let them divide us like this!
As Minneapolis Amalgamated Transit Union 1005 member Adam Burch said, “As a transit worker and union member I refuse to transport my class and radical youth to jail. An injury to one is an injury to all. The police murdered George Floyd and the protest against it is completely justified and should continue until their demands are met.”
The Amalgamated Transit Union should refuse to furnish drivers to do the police’s bidding to repress this movement that is led by black radical youth. Locally, individual workers want to say “NO!” and the union should support them with its full weight!
In Cincinnati, we have our own problem with this system’s failure to convict killer cop Ray tensing for his murder of Sam Dubose, of Stephen Roach for his murder of Timothy Thomas, and countless others who are killed and brutalized by police every day. Black Cincinnatian’s are burdened by the racist system, facing substandard housing, job and education discrimination, and an unjust court and legal system. This movement is about all of those things.
In these times, transit workers have a key role to play helping this struggle. They are part of the working class, many are black. This movement is their movement!
On May 28th, ATU International President John Costa affirmed the right of drivers to refuse to aid the police. “[O]ur members – have the right to refuse the dangerous duty of transporting police to protests and arrested demonstrators away from these communities where many of these drivers live. This is a misuse of public transit…. If any good is to come of this, we in the labor movement and the nation must unite to stop the systemic cycle of injustice, racism and hatred that plagues our country."
We appeal to the Cincinnati ATU local 627 to stand firmly behind its drivers and alongside it’s class. No to aiding the police! Yes to supporting the struggle for working class and black liberation!
Socialist Alternative supports the new struggles emerging around the country against police brutality and our racist capitalist system. We call for:
- Prosecution of all killer cops!
- Mass Political Action and Civil Disobedience of the youth and working class!
- Democratic Oversight of Public Safety!
- Fund Schools and Affordable housing--Not the police and prisons
- End our Racist Capitalist System. Build a socialist movement for black liberation!
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Amalgamated Transit Union Local 674 Executive Council
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Cincinnati ATU Local 627: Stand with your class! Not the police!
On Friday, May 29, protest erupted in Cincinnati over the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolic police. Protests here mirror actions elsewhere. This is a turning point in the struggle, not just against police brutality, but for a better world. A large, multiracial, working class crowd converged downtown and marched in the city shouting “George Floyd, say his Name! Breanna Taylor, say her name!” and “What do we want” Justice! When do we want it? Now!”
We were inspired to see this amazing show of solidarity and strength from everyday people in Cincinnati taking up the call for a better world. But we were discouraged to see Metro buses and drivers ready to be used by the police as potential prisoner transport vehicles. This is a clear example of the police, the sharp end of the capitalist class’s weapons against us, pitting working class people against other working class people. We shouldn’t let them divide us like this!
As Minneapolis Amalgamated Transit Union 1005 member Adam Burch said, “As a transit worker and union member I refuse to transport my class and radical youth to jail. An injury to one is an injury to all. The police murdered George Floyd and the protest against it is completely justified and should continue until their demands are met.”
The Amalgamated Transit Union should refuse to furnish drivers to do the police’s bidding to repress this movement that is led by black radical youth. Locally, individual workers want to say “NO!” and the union should support them with all its full weight!
In Cincinnati, we have our own problem with this system’s failure to convict killer cop Ray tensing for his murder of Sam Dubose, of Stephen Roach for his murder of Timothy Thomas, and countless others who are killed and brutalized by police every day. Black Cincinnatian’s are burdened by the racist system, facing substandard housing, job and education discrimination, and an unjust court and legal system. This movement is about all of those things.
In these times, transit workers have a key role to play helping this struggle. They are part of the working class, many are black. This movement is their movement!
On May 28th, ATU International President John Costa affirmed the right of drivers to refuse to aid the police. “[O]ur members – have the right to refuse the dangerous duty of transporting police to protests and arrested demonstrators away from these communities where many of these drivers live. This is a misuse of public transit…. If any good is to come of this, we in the labor movement and the nation must unite to stop the systemic cycle of injustice, racism and hatred that plagues our country."
We call for the Cincinnati ATU local 627 to stand firmly behind its drivers and alongside it’s class. No to aiding the police! Yes to supporting the struggle for working class and black liberation!