Today in Labor History September 1, 1987: During a nonviolent protest against the illegal U.S arming of the Nicaraguan Contras, a Navy munitions train ran over anti-war protester Brian Willson, who lost both legs in the incident. But Willson continued to be an active leader in the anti-military movement. The following day, activists dismantled the train tracks in protest. Wilson was later sued by civilian members of the train crew for the "humiliation, embarrassment & emotional distress" the incident caused them. All of this occurred at the Concord Naval Weapons Station, just east of San Francisco, formerly known as Port Chicago. It was the same site where an explosion killed 322 mostly black sailors during WWII, setting off a rebellion known as the Port Chicago Mutiny.

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