ILWU Local 21 demonstrator pepper-spreayed by several officers in rural Cowlitz County, Washington, September 21, 2011.
The union representing striking longshore workers is calling for the recall of Cowlitz County Sheriff, Mark Nelson.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union filed a petition, citing civil rights violations, police brutality, and wasteful spending. They’re asking for a special election to determine whether or not the sheriff should keep his job.
In their petition of recall, the union says Nelson failed to decelerate the situation and actually made it worse. They also say that Nelson’s officers added to the violence of what would have been a peaceful protest.