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2003 Port of Oakland dock protest

Anti-war protest in Oakland CA USA

Anti-war protest in Oakland CA USA

On April 7, 2003, in Oakland, California, United States, an anti-war protest occurred at the Port of Oakland. The non-violent protest was organized by Direct Action to Stop the War, a Bay Area peace group, which was protesting against American President Lines, alleging the company shipped arms and supplies for the U.S. military and was profiting from the war on Iraq.

The incident

The police fired wooden dowels projectiles, sting balls, concussion grenades, tear gas and other less-lethal weapons when protesters at the gates of two shipping lines at the port refused an order to disperse. Longshoremen and protestors were injured in the exchange.

Reverberations

The next month after the incident, on May 13, Direct Action to Stop the War again led a march of anti-war activists and community leaders from the West Oakland BART Station to five port gates, and the event remained peaceful.

Criminal charges against 24 activists and one longshoreman were brought and later dropped, and in February, 2005 the Oakland City Council paid $154,000 to 24 people who claimed they were hurt in the demonstration. In 2006, The New York Times reported upon an over $2 million settlement for "dozens of payouts" stemming from the incident, the reported size of the awards from the City ranging from $5,000 to $500,000.

ACLU Report on Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Oakland Police (2003)

This report from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) describes how 40 protesters, dock workers, and bystanders at an anti-war protest at the Port of Oakland were injured and sued the city of Oakland for “excessive force” by police. The police used wooden bullets, stun grenades, and “filler bullets” against the crowd, causing serious injuries.

Other items

A news report from SFGate says dozens of people were injured at the April 7 protest, police used tear gas and various projectiles, and at least 31 people were arrested. These were the largest protests against the Iraq War in the San Francisco Bay Area.

References

References

  1. (April 8, 2003). "CNN.com - Oakland antiwar protest gets ugly - Apr. 8, 2003". [[CNN]].
  2. (April 7, 2003). "Police Violence Shocks Activists, Others at Port of Oakland Protest". [[San Jose Mercury News]].
  3. City, Bay. (May 13, 2003). "Anti-war protesters picketing at Port of Oakland - SFGate". SFGate.com.
  4. "Oakland dockers honour anti-war picket lines".
  5. "Criminal charges against 24 activists and one longshoreman were brought and later dropped".
  6. Marshall, Carolyn. (March 20, 2006). "Oakland Nears Final Payouts for Protesters Hurt by Police - New York Times". [[The New York Times]].
  7. [https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/forty-dockworkers-demonstrators-and-observers-file-federal-lawsuit-over-injuries Forty Dockworkers, Demonstrators, and Observers File Federal Lawsuit Over Injuries Sustained in Anti-War Protest at California Port] Retrieved 25 December 2025
  8. [https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Dozens-of-antiwar-protesters-injured-at-Port-of-2623403.php Dozens of antiwar protesters injured at Port of Oakland] Retrieved 25 December 2025
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