[olympiaworkers] IWW Denied Access to Mall of America by Riot Police, 8/31/08: Video

Indybay Sept 1, 2008

View Video and Pictures at:
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/09/01/18531590.php

Starbucks workers at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota,
unionized with the Industrial Workers of the World about a month ago. One
worker, Erik Forman, was wrongly fired due to his union organizing. With
pressure from the IWW, Starbucks reinstated him and he was set to return
to the job today. Riot police at the Mall of America turned back the IWW,
but Erik was still able to make it to the job. Jake Fell (pictured below)
was interviewed about the day's events and the future plans of the local
IWW.
As an act of solidarity, several dozen local IWW members and supporters,
along with National Lawyer's Guild observers, intended to peacefully
escort the reinstated Erik Forman to the Mall of America. In line with
recent police aggression in the Twin Cities related to the 2008 RNC in St.
Paul (see http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/08/30/18531223.php),
police massed at the IWW rally point at the light rail station at Lake &
Hiawatha. Initially, police refused to allow the IWW access to the light
rail station so that they might escort Erik back to the Mall of America.
Later, the IWW was allowed to proceed. Two stations from the mall, police
again seemed to be ready to prevent the group's access to the mall yet
then allowed the train to proceed. Finally, at the mall itself, a line of
riot cops from Plymouth, MN in full riot gear refused to allow the IWW to
disembark from the train. Other unrelated passengers, including one
diabetic in need of insulin, were also not allowed to leave the train as
it was held with the doors closed. Eventually, the train was just sent in
the other direction, away from the mall, with no one allowed off. At the
first stop in the other direction, Erik Forman got off and walked to his
job at the mall. Jake Fell was interviewed right after the IWW returned to
the original light rail station.

Wobblies Welcome Mall of America Starbucks Baristas to the Union!
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/07/31/18521261.php

8/31- Day of Action Against Capitalism: All out for the IWW Starbucks
Workers!
http://twincities.indymedia.org

Starbucks Barista's Everywhere Can Sign Up:
http://starbucksunion.org

Those Local to Twin Cities Can Call or Email:
1-651-biliup1
twin-cities-iww [at] iww.org

http://starbucksunion.org