The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-12-17
DEMONSTRATE AT
BOAT LOADED At
POINT OF GUNS
Score U. S. Imperialism
at Dock Workers
Meeting
Distribute the "Daily"
43 Demonstrators in
Philadelphia Jailed

DOWll WIN iOAOOoy AAhANi
ican Imperialism in Latin
America!l" "Stand by the Col
ombia Fruit Workers Strike!"
"Strike Against United Fruit
Company Brutalityp'
These and other slogans
served as rallying cries of a
picket demonstration held Sat-
urday at Pier 16, North River,
where the Santa Marta, United
Fruit Company ship, had
docked the day before. This is the
ship which railroad workers in
Santa Marta, Colombia, showing
their solidarity with the 10000
striking banana plantation workers,
had refused to load. A detachment
of 800 troops fired on them, kill
ing Ia in cold blood and wounding
many others and forcing the rest to
load the ship at the point of guns.
400 Participate.
About 400 dock workers took
part in the picket demonstration
which lasted several hours. The
demonstration was arranged by the
Marine Workers Progressive League
and the New York Branch of the
All-America Anti-Imperialist League.
The police were at first uncertain
what to do. After consulting with
officials of the United Fruit Com
pany, they decided not to incur un-
pleasant publicity by attacks on the
pickets. They interfered with the
demonstration as much as Athey
could without actually using vio-
lence or making arrests. News
paper photographers were also
molested.
Distribute "Daily."
Copies of the Daily Worker, Civ
ing details of the massacre of the
Colombia strikers, We're distributed
during the demonstration and were
read eagerly by the dock workers.
Following the picketing meeting
was held outside the offices of the
United Fruit Company. Among
those who spoke were George Mink,
national secretary of the Marine
Workers Progressive League; Har-
riet Silverman, secretary of the
New York branch of the All-Amer-
lea Anti-Imperialist League; l.
Zimmerman, and Harold Williams,
a Negro worker. All the speakers
pointed out the murderous role of
American imperialism in Latin
America and called on the workers
to stand solid behind the struggle
of the Colombia plantation strikers
1t is announced that picketing OF
United Fruit Company ships will
continue and workers are urged to
volunteer for picket duty.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 16.-Po-
lice yesterday arrested 43 workers
who were participating in demon
stration of solidarity with the 10000
Colombian fruit strikers. The dem
onstration was held at Pier 9, which
is occupied by the United Fruit Co.,
against whom the Colombian banana
workers are striking.
Over $50 workers took part in the
demonstration, which was helc
under the auspices of the Workers
(Communist) Party, the All-Amer-
lea Anti-Imperialisb League, ant
the Young Workers League.
The arrested workers were
brought before Magistrate Fahn,
stock, who refused to a9ow then
time to get in touch with their at.
torney. Each demonstrator was
charged with 'inciting to riot.
When the workers refused to swear
on the bible, an additional charge
of contempt of court" was made
by Fahnstock. Fahnstock, who is
notorious as a labor-baiter, sen.
fenced 40 of the workers to 80 days
in the workhouse. Three of the
demonstrators were released on 5000
bail.
The International Labor Defense
representing the workers, will ap.
peal the cases tomorrow morning.