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   Vol.64/No.28            July 17, 2000 
 
 
Letters
 
 
Protest killing of Black man
Some 80 people attended a meeting at New Galilee Missionary Baptist Church on the east side of Detroit on June 28 to plan a protest around the death of a Black man at the hands of security guards in the parking lot in front of the Lord and Taylor store at Fairlane mall in Dearborn, a suburb just west of Detroit.

Frederick Finley died June 22 when security guards at Lord and Taylor put a chokehold on him, using the gold chain he was wearing as a garrotte. He had interceded to prevent the guards from handcuffing his 12-year-old stepdaughter, who the guards said was trying to steal a $4 bracelet. The June 28 meeting issued a call for a protest outside Lord and Taylor at Fairlane mall at 6:00 p.m. July 5.

Chuck Guerra 
Detroit, Michigan 
 
 
UAW fight at Accuride
Members of United Auto Workers Local 2036 at Accuride in Henderson, Kentucky, continue to pull picket duty and are persisting in their efforts to negotiate a fair contract. The 400 workers were forced out on strike in February 1998 by the maker of giant wheels for Peterbilt, Ford, General Motors, Mack, Navistar, and others.

After making an unconditional offer to return to work at the end of March 1998, the company locked them out. In September 1999, the UAW International cut the local's strike benefits and health insurance. On June 24 they held a "Mini-Rally" and cleanup day in the union parking lot. A couple of dozen workers cleared garbage, cut up firewood, hauled off brush, and feasted on barbeque, while discussing plans to continue their fight.

Marian Russell  
Cape Girardeau, Illinois 
 
 
The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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