Between 750 and 1,000 trade unionists converged on Von's Pavillions supermarket located at 9852 Chapman Ave. in Garden Grove today to protest the lockout/strike of more than 70,000 UFCW members in the Southern California area and demand that affordable healthcare be provided for all Americans.

The Garden Grove Police, fully equipped with tear gas, riot gear, and mounted horse patrols, arrested 16 people who willfully blocked the entrance to the store in an act of civil disobedience. The arrestees included a local priest, an Anaheim City Councilman, the President of UFCW Local 324, the Director of the California Labor Federation, and a number of other trade union leaders.

The demonstration caused serious disruption to supermarket operations for more than two hours and was seen by hundreds of people who patronized some of the dozens of retail outlets located at nearby shopping malls.

Speakers at the rally included: Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (D-Garden Grove), Congresswoman Hilda Solis (D-LA), State Assemblyman Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana), Garden Grove City Councilman Mark Rosen, Anaheim City Councilman Richard Chavez, UFCW Local President Greg Conger, UFCW Organizing Director Rick Eiden, and California Labor Federation AFL-CIO Director Art Pulaski.

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