Justice 4 Alan Blueford!

Adopted unanimously by SAN FRANCISCO LABOR COUNCIL, Jan. 14, 2013

Whereas a Black person is killed by law enforcement once every 36 hours, per the Malcolm X Grass Roots Movement’s study;

Whereas the federal report monitoring the Oakland Police Department states that the Oakland Police Department pulls guns on Black and Latino people disproportionately to the number of times guns are pulled on whites;

Whereas two new reports by a federal monitor, criticized the OPD’s handling of officer-involved shootings and Occupy Oakland protests;

Whereas Alan Blueford, an 18 year old Black youth, who was about to graduate from Skyline H.S., was killed by OPD Officer Masso on May 6.

Whereas OPD has provided at least four versions of what happened the night Alan Blueford was killed, including the claim that the Officer Masso was shot in a gun battle with Alan Blueford, when he later admitted that he shot himself in the foot;

Whereas the OPD:
A. Engaged in racial profiling and violated numerous OPD policies;
B. Engaged in a cover-up (Made numerous false statements and repeatedly changed their story);
C. Showed complete disregard for the life of Alan Blueford and the dignity of the family;
D. Had the coroner’s report withheld from the family for 3 months, and the police report for5 months;

Whereas, the Coroner’s Report reveals that Alan Blueford had no gun residue on his hands, no alcohol or drugs in his system, and implies that Alan Blueford was shot while lying on his back;

Whereas Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley declared she will not charge Officer Masso for the killing of Alan Blueford. Her report shows strong bias as, for example, relying on Masso’s statement that Alan was standing when he first shot him, despite 11 out of 12 witness statements to the contrary;

Therefore, be it resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council pass a resolution seeking Justice For Alan Blueford and demand that the Federal Monitor take strong action against OPD including:
1. Stopping the OPD from racial and ethnic profiling and violence against people of color;
2. Instituting stricter background checks, training, apprehension and gun use policies within the OPD;
3. The firing of Officer Masso;

Further be it resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council demand that the Alameda County District Attorney immediately charge Officer Masso with murder.

Finally be it resolved that the San Francisco Labor Council send this resolution to U.S. District Court Judge Thelton Henderson, Alameda District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, SFLC affiliates, the Alameda Labor Council, the California Federation of Labor, the AFL-CIO, for concurrence and action.

Submitted by Marcus Holder, ILWU Local 10; David Welsh, NALC 214; Carl Finamore, IAMAW, Air Transport Local Lodge 1781; Alan Benjamin, OPEIU Local 3; Allan Fisher, AFT 2121; Rodger Scott, AFT 2121; Alysabeth Alexander, SEIU 1021.

Essentially identical resolutions have been passed by ILWU 10 Executive Board and General membership meetings, SEIU 1021 Executive Board, the Oakland Education Ass’n Representative Council (on 12/3/12) and Unite Here 2850 Executive Board (1/7/13).

RESOLUTION ON JUSTICE FOR ALAN BLUEFORD

Submitted to the Oakland Education Association

Whereas Alan Blueford, an 18 year old Black youth, Oakland resident, and member of the Oakland Unified School District community, who was about to graduate from Skyline H.S., was killed by OPD Officer Masso on May 6.

Whereas a Black person is killed by law enforcement once every 36 hours, per the Malcolm X Grass Roots Movement’s study;

Whereas the federal report monitoring the Oakland Police Department states that the Oakland Police Department pulls guns on Black and Latino people disproportionately to the number of times guns are pulled on whites;

Whereas OPD has provided at least four versions of what happened the night Alan Blueford was killed, including the claim that the Officer Masso was shot in a gun battle with Alan Blueford, when he later admitted that he shot himself in the foot;

Whereas the OPD:

1. Engaged in racial profiling and violated numerous OPD policies;
2. Engaged in a cover-up (Made numerous false statements and repeatedly changed their story);
3. Showed complete disregard for the life of Alan Blueford and the dignity of the family;
4. Had the coroner’s report withheld from the family for 3 months, the police report for 5 months;

Whereas, the Coroner’s Report reveals that Alan Blueford had no gun residue on his hands, no alcohol or drugs in his system, and indicates that Alan Blueford was shot while lying on his back;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Oakland Education Association pass this resolution seeking Justice For Alan Blueford, demanding:

1. An end to OPD’s racial and ethnic profiling and violence against people of color;
2. Stricter background checks, training, apprehension and gun use policies within the OPD;
3. The firing of Officer Masso, and charging him with murder.

Further be it resolved that the OEA call on its members to support and attend upcoming coalition events in support of Justice for Alan Blueford.

Several weeks ago, Dignity and Resistance Coalition endorsed the Justice 4 Alan Blueford coalition and our march against police brutality and racial profiling. We thank them for their support and we thank their members who turned out for the march.

The Dignity and Resistance Coalition is calling for a boycott of Mi Pueblo to stop unfair labor practices against workers and to stop Mi Pueblo’s voluntary participation in the federal I-9 audit which can result in deportations.  A community picket is happening on Wednesday, November 21, 4-7PM, and we would like to extend back to them our full solidarity.

Many of these Oakland workers are Latinos who face racial profiling, immigrants facing ICE aggression, and African Americans who are denied jobs, routinely.  We stand with them for justice!   Oakland workers deserve justice on the job just as much as they deserve justice–and constitutional protections–on the street.

Several weeks ago, SEIU Local 1021 endorsed the Justice 4 Alan Blueford
coalition and our march against racial profiling by police. We thank them
for their support and we thank their members who turned out for the march.

Members of SEIU Local 1021 are now planning to strike the Port of Oakland
on Tuesday, November 20, and we would like to extend back to them our full
solidarity. Many of these workers are among the people of color who
face racial profiling in Oakland every day and as they stood with us we
stand with them. Oakland workers deserve justice on the job just as much as
they deserve justice–and constitutional protections–on the street.

Members of the Justice 4 Alan Blueford coalition will be on the picket line
Tuesday and we invite all of our supporters to join us.