Posted on 02/22/2014 5:48:29 AM PST by mgist
The federal government indicted several union members on Tuesday for burning down a Quaker meetinghouse in 2012. Why? Because it was employing non-union workers, of course.
Ten members of Philadelphia’s Ironworkers Local 401 were charged with “allegedly participating in a conspiracy to commit criminal acts of extortion, arson, destruction of property, and assault in order to force construction contractors to hire union ironworkers,” the FBI statement reads. “Eight of the 10 individuals named in the indictment are charged with conspiring to use Ironworkers Local 401 as an enterprise to commit criminal acts. … The indictment details incidents in which the defendants threatened or assaulted contractors or their employees and damaged construction equipment and job sites as part of a concerted effort to force contractors to hire and pay Local 401 workers, even when those workers performed no function. Among the criminal acts set forth in the indictment is the December 2012 arson of a Quaker Meetinghouse under construction in Philadelphia.”
In an effort to distance themselves from allegations of violence, the union used a network of individuals ‘friendly’ to Ironworkers Local 401 that helped identify construction projects and job sites that were not using Local 401 members.
“The indictment alleges that business agents would approach construction foremen at those work sites and imply or explicitly threaten violence, destruction of property or other criminal acts unless union members were hired. The defendants relied on a reputation for violence and sabotage, which had been built up in the community over many years, in order to force contractors to hire union members,” the statement continues.
And they truly were union thugs. One of the ‘goon squads’ the defendants used, which consisted of union members and associates, called themselves THUGs—an acronym for “The Helpful Union Guys”.
Using violence, intimidation, extortion, and other crimes to further union goals will not be tolerated, the FBI said, and they’re hoping this indictment will serve as a warning to other unions.
“The strong-arm tactics we have seen in this case are outrageous and brazen—and an unfortunate blow to the worthy intentions of unionism,” Special Agent in Charge Edward J. Hanko said. “The fight for workers’ rights may sometimes call for tough tactics, but violence, intimidation, arson, and sabotage are crimes which won’t be tolerated. This investigation has been wide-ranging, but it is far from over. Now that this indictment has been unsealed, we expect to hear from more victims and will aggressively pursue all other leads we receive.”
I guess the heat was too much for Holder not to charge the thugs. Being found not guilty is probably already baked into the cake.
************************************
There will be some sort of procedural error , lost evidence , failing to do some administrative function within a certain timeframe or such that will be used to set most of them free. The one or two that do go to jail will get what seems like long sentences but they will have them reduced once the press coverage declines.
It takes a real man of courage to burn down the church dedicated to the principle of nonviolence. Wonder if they would have burned down a mosque under the same conditions?
Three little words, Money, Obama and Holder!
***********************
Funny in my mind that translates to lawyers guns and money.
I hope everyones making a list and checking it twice.
There is very little coverage of this in the local Philly media. VERY little...
Quakers & kids volunteering to clean up parks.
Anyone else they want to interfere with (bully)??
It would be a shame if someone were to start burning down the homes of union officials. An absolute shame.
****************************
How many times would their houses need to burn , repetitively before they would get the message? 2? 3?
The SCOTUS had a “super downer” month in 1973.
On January 22, they issued Roe v Wade
and on February 22, this issued US vs Emmons.
And we think things are tough today.
Well, if someone should die in the fire...
That cited court ruling is just one more glaringly obvious unjust decision of many made by weak judges in the history of this nation.
Because if you are, you’re the devil?
Generally, non-unions are bigger than that.
Somebody forgot their donation to “organizing for obama...ER...I mean America”.
Agreed.
Generally...
Quakers (or Society of Friends), a particularly pacifist Christian denomination.
It’s because the world has dipped into the devil.
But yes, that is so sympathetic a target that someone finally thought it was a shame NOT to at least symbolically call these thugs to account. Whether it will be followed through on, only God knows.
And yet... maybe it will be with Quakers, among others, that we may see the seeds of divine revolution here, a revolution which will be almost bloodless here if it succeeds (but it was not bloodless with Christ).
Those who are so passionate about God that it makes a difference in how they live. The Society of Friends was initially mocked with the term Quaker, because they believed in “trembling before the Lord.” Not that they expected the Lord to be mean to them, but because His works were awesome. But the term eventually stuck and acquired a benign connotation. We know the familiar Quaker on the oats container.
But those who quake before the Lord, don’t need to quake before anyone else!
And they will be part of God’s counter offensive against the spirit of intimidation.
Didn't they beat up a guy in a wheelchair? At a townhall meeting?
One of those indited, business agent Edward Sweeney, 55, of Philadelphia, wonder if he is related to New Jersey State Senator Steve Sweeney who is also a Iron Worker?
Union “Thuggery.” Isn’t that the way all unions operate?
I thought America was about freedom of choice. You know, the union kind.....”We will make you a deal you can’t refuse” or “you wouldn’t want to see your kid beat up at school? Or, that’s a real nice car you have there. It would be too bad if something happened to it.
You know, freedom of choice: Freedom to join the union or to refuse to join. What could be more fair?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.