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2/2SF Protest Over Macy's Firing Of Palestinian American Women
On Feb 2, 2002, a picket/solidarity action will take place at SF Union Square Macy's to protest the discrminatory firing of Alia Atawneh in October
Stop Macy's Discriminatory Firing
Rehire Alia Atawneh
Solidarity Picket
Saturday Feb 2, 2002 12:00 Noon
Macy's Department Store, Geary St. Union Square San Francisco
Following the 9/11 events, Arab Americans and Muslims throughout the US came under attack. These chauvinist and racist attacks have led to the firings of workers and constant harassment on the job and in the streets.
One of the most flagrant violators of democratic rights has been Macy's Department store, which is owned by the Federated Department store chain.
Alia Atawneh was working as a clerk in the Westfield Shopping Valley Fair in San Jose. On 9/27 a customer began to berate her because of her nationality. He denounced "her people and said she had no right to work in the United States."
Alia asked what evidence he had that "her people" had done the attack. The customer then called the manager of the department and a week later Aila was fired by Macy's. This clear and overt violation of Aila's civil rights must be protested.
We demand that Macy's apologize for this action, provide monetary compensation and rehire Alia Atawneh. On Saturday February 2 at 12:00 there will be a solidarity demonstration for Aila at the San Francisco Union Square Macy's.
We call on all trade unionists, supporters of civil rights and community activists to bring your banners and posters on the picket line. We cannot allow Aila to fight alone in this battle for her civil liberties. Please get your union or organization to pass a resolution in support of her and send a letter to Macy's along with your Macy's credit card that you won't be shopping at stores that violate democratic rights.
Picket Sponsored by The Town Hall Coalition
Initially Endorsed by SF Chapter Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee, Bay Area Workers Democracy Network, Freedom Socialist Party, Labor Video Project, International Action Center, Coalition To End The Sanctions On Iraq
For Further Information on the case go to http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/local/docs/fired16a.htm
For More Information on this action, Contact
(415)282-1908 or united [at] labornet.org
For more information:
http://www0.mercurycenter.com/premium/loca...
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do you honsetly believe that Macy's would do something like that?
even if you believe that they are cold-hearted capitalists you'd have to understand that firing that worker was ridiculously stupid, and if what you say is true would leave Macy's open to a debilitating boycott and more importantly a multi-million dollar lawsuit.
2) that being said, if she were being punished by the state, I would fight for her rights for her to spout her bile.
3) she was however, saying this at her job - the First Amendment simply does not apply. Unless she is a member of some union, which has some kind of grievance procedure, she has no recourse.
4) when I look at the sponsors of her defense - the IAC/Worker's World Party, etc. - any sympathy I might have had for her - and I had little already, is gone.
Tough darts.
to jon: all I can say is your belief in the rationality of life under capitalism is touching. business gets away with all sorts of bullshit all the time, knowing that the combined force of the law and general inertia work in their favor. Try tipping your hand to your employer that you are thinking of starting organizing your fellow workers (not that I have any illusion that a neo-liberal tool like you would ever do such a thing) and see how fast you get shit-canned.
Your argument makes no sense. Clearly the woman took 'your people' to mean Arabs.
In any event, regardless of what the person meant, or what her response meant - she has no 1st Amendment rights in this situation.
Plenty of people get insulted at work everyday. From fast-food to the D.M.V. She should have just shut up and smiled - or perhaps called security.
PK
And thanks for clarifying freedom -- or rather, the lack thereof -- in the American work-place for us.
I've found that the best way to combat the totalitarianism of work under capitalism circa 2002 is to mount a collective fight-back. You wouldn't be opposed that, now would you Pat?
Of course you would.
Go protest your silly little heads off. It's a free country.
PK
If you can work it into your contract that you can say f*ck you to your boss or a customer, good for you.
The U.S. Constitution however, does not give offer that protection.
That's not bad. I might use that one one of
these days myself. It hints at the fundamental
differences between bourgeois consciousness and
revolutionary consciousness. In revolutionary
consciousness. we perceive that "rights" are
not things that the nice authorities deign to
give us. They are not gifts. We don't owe the
powerful thanks for every time they refrain from
crushing us.
Also, this quote draws attention to the fact that
"rights" are not universal, static realities
engraved by God on the stones of time. Rather,
they are dynamic. Once upon a time, slaves had
the right to bow to their masters and little
else. Once upon a time we recognized the "divine
rights" of kings. Today, we recognize the divine
rights of capital. There's no more reason to
accept the eternal truth of the latter than
the former.