San Francisco Police Officers have supported and respected labor for many years. This is a well-established union town, and in many respects has lead the state and national labor movement through hard-earned example and dedication to the simple labor tenet; a fair wage for a day's work, and equity in the workplace translates into justice in the community.

The SFPOA unionized (incorporated) in 1946. Since that time, we have tirelessly negotiated fair wages, deserving benefits, and optimum working conditions for our members. At the same time, we have continually supported our brothers and sisters in other labor organizations as each sought to make a better life for their members.

Unfortunately, over the past few years we have become targets of hostility from some in the labor movement. I believe it is in part because we have been so successful in negotiating contracts where many of them have failed.

We can forebear the occasional envious snub from uppity union pols, but there is one thing we do not tolerate; labor union support for cowardly murderers of police officers.

For some inexplicable reason, the San Francisco Labor Council recently issued a resolution to Attorney General Jerry Brown asking that all charges be dropped against Herman Bell, Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Henry Jones, Anthony Bottom, Harold Taylor, and Francisco Torres for the unprovoked 1971 murder of Sgt. John V. Young. Not only was sergeant Young a police officer in the SFPD, but he was also a dues paying member of a San Francisco labor organization -- the SFPOA.

Sergeant Young's murder was shamefully unprovoked. He was murdered in a most cowardly manner; ambushed as he stepped to the counter at Ingleside Station to offer his assistance to a walk-in member of the public.

The resolution offered by the SF Labor Council stretches truth and glamorizes Sergeant Young's slayers not as fugitive conspirators, but as heroes of the local oppressed. In actuality, they are thugs, murderers, and thieves; self-glorified members of the Black Liberation Army, a fringe organization whose sole purpose was to spread hateful and racist ideology through violence, urban terrorism, and death.

Let me recount to you some of the facts about these common criminals that the Labor Council has chosen to disregard:

Ÿ On October 21, 1968, Richard Brown was arrested for attempting to murder San Francisco police officers William Palmer and Charles O'Brien.

• On November 5, 1968, Ray Boudreaux and Henry Jones were arrested for the attempted murder of South San Francisco police officers Douglas McCool, Mifflin Singleton, and George Baptista.
• On October 22, 1970, Anthony Bottom bombed St. Brendan church during the funeral of San Francisco police officer Harold Hamilton.
• On February 6, 1971, Anthony Bottom and Herman Bell attempted to murder San Francisco police officer Lawrence Heap.
• On March 30, 1971, Anthony Bottom, Francisco Torres, and Herman Bell attempted to bomb Mission police station.
• On May 21,1971 Anthony Bottom, Herman Bell, and Albert Washington murdered New York police officers Waverly Jones and Joseph Piagentini, and were convicted of First degree murder.
• On July 21, 1971, Anthony Bottom, Herman Bell, Henry Jones, and Francisco Torres robbed the Fidelity Savings and Loan at 2400 Sutter St at gunpoint.
• On August 28, 1971, Anthony Bottom and Albert Washington attempted to murder San Francisco police sergeant George Kowalski, a crime for which they were eventually convicted.
• On August 29, 1971, Anthony Bottom, Herman Bell, Francisco Torres, Ray Boudreaux, Richard Brown, Henry Jones, and Francisco Torres all entered into a conspiracy to murder Sgt. John V. Young at Ingleside police station. They accomplished their mission.
• On September 30, 1971, Herman Bell, Francisco Torres, and Henry Jones committed an armed robbery at the Bank of America at 433 Cortland Ave.
• On November 23, 1973, Henry Jones and James Boudreaux robbed a savings and loan in Georgia and were ultimately convicted.

So, are these really your heroes, SF Labor Council? Are these the sterling examples of the best that organized labor has to offer the people of San Francisco?

As a proud labor man, I certainly hope not.

As proud and honorable association members, all SF officers and I await your reversal of this disgusting deed, as well as your public apology.