Labor Federation President Condemns Occupy Rochester Arrests

For Immediate Release
October 29, 2011

Contact:
Jim Bertolone, President
Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
President, Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO
President, American Postal Workers Union, Local 215
(585) 263-2650

Bruce Popper, Executive Vice President
Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
1st Vice-President, Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Vice-President, 1199SEIU Healthcare Workers East
(585) 263-2650

Labor Federation President Condemns Occupy Rochester Arrests

Says Decision to Provoke a Confrontation was Made Hours Before by City Officials

(Rochester, NY) James Bertolone, President, Rochester and Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, today condemned the arrests of dozens of peaceful protesters in Rochester's Washington Square Park. "The arrests of those supporting the Occupy Wall Street movement last night is an embarrassment to our community and dishonors our American values," stated Bertolone. "It is nothing short of an attempt by the 1% to silence the voices of the 99%; the victims of decades of wage stagnation and income inequality."

"We, in the union movement are alarmed that these protestors were arrested, and call on our elected officials to cease interfering with peaceful demonstrations about our country's economic plight," continued Bertolone. "I am even more disturbed by the fact that City officials made the decision to arrest people many hours before the actual protest. Our office received a warning from City Hall many hours before the demonstration because, we believe, of our organization's support of the Occupy Wall Street protests."

"I want to make it clear that our criticisms do not include rank and file police officers who were obeying orders from City Hall. They handled the situation professionally and without incident.  There is no reason to strain our police budgets when there is no threat to public safety, and our nation has already laid off 35,000 police officers. They are also part of the 99% and should not be placed in such a position in the future," continued Bertolone.

"We demand in the strongest possible terms that Mayor Richards reverse his directive and order his troops to stand down. Local ordinances for the public's property, such as trespassing or parade permit laws, cannot be allowed to deny the rights of Americans to peaceably exercise their first amendment rights."

"The Labor movement in this City and State will continue to support the cause of the 99% of Americans until the needs of our citizens are addressed."

The Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO covers 11 counties, and represents more than 75,000 working men and women from more than 300 local unions.