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Rubber Bullets Fired at Anti-War Protest
Police opened fire this morning with rubber bullets at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland, California
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Police open fired Monday morning with rubber bullets at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland, injuring several longshoremen standing nearby.
Police were trying to clear protesters from an entrance to the docks when they opened fire and the longshoremen apparently were caught in the crossfire.
Six longshoremen were treated by paramedics and at least one was expected to be taken to a hospital. It was unclear if any of the protesters was injured.
``I was standing as far back as I could,'' said longshoremen Kevin Wilson. ``It was very scary. All of that force wasn't necessary.''
Last week, a San Francisco-based peace group, Direct Action to Stop the War, had announced that it would stage a series of protests Monday involving new acts of civil disobedience.
The Port of Oakland was among the targets, organizers had said, because at least one shipping company is handling war supplies.
Monday April 7, 2003