------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 17, 2003 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
BALTIMORE: BUS BOYCOTT DEMANDS LOWER FARE It was July 1, the day of the Baltimore bus boycott to protest an increase in fares. At 4 a.m., before the sun was up, volunteers with the All Peoples Congress set out to drive along several bus routes, picking up workers along the way. The group pictured here were among those traveling along the No. 8 bus line from Coldspring Avenue and York Road to the No. 64 line to Curtis Bay. Their van and cars stopped to pick up workers going to downtown hospitals and factories along the waterfront. While Baltimore's Mass Transit Autho rity would not offer any figures on how many people rode the buses that day, many attending the All Peoples Congress meeting two days later had opinions. Renee Washington, a state worker, reported that many of her fellow workers said they had boycotted. "The parking lot was crowded this morning because workers were taking their cars in protest and offering others rides to work." Others reported that bus stops and buses looked empty. Organizers felt their call to action was a huge success. Local television programs carried news of the boycott, including live coverage in the morning. The group also plans to mobilize defense for nine people arrested at a June 27 protest, when police tried to intimidate the crowd for having a bullhorn. One of them, union organizer Jeff Bigelow, is facing a 10-year sentence on assault charges. --Sharon Ceci - END - (Copyright Workers World Service: Everyone is permitted to copy and distribute verbatim copies of this document, but changing it is not allowed. For more information contact Workers World, 55 W. 17 St., NY, NY 10011; via e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe wwnews- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe [EMAIL PROTECTED] Support the voice of resistance http://www.workers.org/orders/donate.php) ------------------ This message is sent to you by Workers World News Service. To subscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, E-mail to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To switch to the DIGEST mode, E-mail to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Send administrative queries to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
