Vol.63/No.39 November 8, 1999
Natchez tire strikers win acquittal
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BY CLAY DENNISON
NATCHEZ, Mississippi — Sixteen strikers and one supporter were acquitted on charges of criminal trespass here October 25. The sixteen are members of United Steelworkers of America Local 303L, on strike against Titan Tire. Pointing to the fact that all but two of those charged were Black, James White, one of the defendants, said, "They were trying to put us against one another. But we're union — we're not going to fight one another."
The charges were brought after a number of strikers and supporters attending a rally at the gates of the tire plant conducted a spirited march through part of the factory on September 11. None of the defendants disputed that they had been part of the impromptu demonstration, but argued on several grounds that they had not violated any trespassing laws.
At several points during cross examination, the defense attorney asked prosecution witnesses if they had overheard Bill James, a former Natchez cop and present "project manager" for Vance Security at the struck plant, invite participants to enter the gates, which he had left unlocked. Vance Security is a notorious union-busting outfit that supplies well-armed "guards" for companies during strikes and is known for provocative behavior around picket lines.
The defense never presented its case. After the prosecution called 15 witnesses, mostly plant management and James, the Vance boss, the judge ruled that Titan Tire and their security agents had legal standing to bring charges, but that the union members' and supporters' behavior did not violate the law in this specific instance. He delivered a directed verdict of not guilty for all 17 defendants. The prosecutor, who had spent hours making a case against the workers, called the verdict "fair," and explained that the union members "didn't damage property and left peacefully when asked to leave."
Willie Evans, an activist member of the Steelworkers local said, "The union stood its ground. We stood for what we think is right — the plant doesn't belong to the scabs, it belongs to us. It was a victory," he continued. "We stood our ground and stuck together."