Union officer called for smoke-bomb attacks on theaters, witness testifies

CBS 2 Chicago ^ | March 1, 2004 | Mike Robinson

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

CHICAGO (AP) A motion picture projectionist told a federal court Monday that the No. 2 man in his union provided him with chemicals for attacking movie theaters across the country with highly flammable smoke bombs to bring pressure on theater owners at the bargaining table.

Projectionist Kent Dickinson said union secretary-treasurer Albin Brenkus told him in 1998 that talks with three theater chains were going badly and the union needed greater pressure to push them toward contract agreements.

``Al pulled out this tube and in the tube were a dozen cellophane-wrapped chlorine tablets,'' the 53-year-old Dickinson testified. He went on to describe how mixing the tablets with brake fluid could create a delayed-action smoke bomb that prosecutors said was highly flammable.

Prosecutors say that when the smoke bombs were placed in movie theaters in Indianapolis, New York and other cities, patrons ran out screaming in panic.

Brenkus, 60, of Willowbrook; Peter C. Lipa, 48, Wonder Lake, and Gregory J. Tortorello are charged with conspiracy to commit arson, interstate travel to commit arson and other offenses.

Defense attorney Douglas Whitney told jurors that Brenkus may have used some tactics that were ``wrong or even illegal'' but that ``he neither encouraged nor paid anyone to commit arson.''

Dickinson, however, testified that Brenkus told him he heard about how to make the smoke bombs from an unnamed union official in Indianapolis and gave him the needed chemicals.

He said Brenkus repeatedly supplied him with expense money on his expeditions out of state.

Dickinson is one of four other men charged in the case who have pleaded guilty and are now awaiting sentencing. He is hoping for a lighter sentence in return for his testimony.

Those charged were members or aspiring members of Motion Picture Projectionists, Operators and Video Technicians, Local 110 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.

The campaign was designed to get contracts from AMC Entertainment Inc., Loews Cineplex Entertainment Corp. and Cinemark U.S.A., Inc.

Dickinson said he and Brenkus initially picked theaters in the Chicago suburbs of Warrenville and South Barrington as potential targets.

After testing the bombs and reporting back to Brenkus that they worked, Dickinson said, he asked the union chief when to use them.

``Anytime,'' he quoted Brenkus as saying.

``I said one or both, and he shrugged his shoulders and said both,'' Dickinson testified.

He said the initial attacks seemed to make little difference in the negotiations.

But after an August 1998 smoke bombing at a theater in Manhattan, Brenkus was encouraged.

``He told me that apparently the New York job had had the desired effect,'' Dickinson said.

The trial before U.S. District Judge Suzanne B. Conlon is expected to take two weeks.

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Ah....labor the real friend of "the people."

[blau993]

John, with your screen name and the title of this piece, I thought I was going to read some piece out of the Civil War Times -- perhaps Yankee revenge for the attempts of the Rebs to burn New York?

[rocky88]

Unions = Domestic Terrorists

[Land_of_Lincoln_John]

Didn't think of that...As far as I know, the projectionists goons didn't hit Ford's Theater.

[mylife]

A motion picture projectionist told a federal court Monday that the No. 2 man in his union provided him with chemicals for attacking movie theaters across the country with highly flammable smoke bombs to bring pressure on theater owners at the bargaining table.

its all about "fair trade" really...

[mylife]

How does running patrons out of a theaters help these idiots gain work??

Were they bombing nonunion theater's?

Gads I hate labor unions

[vpintheak]

Why is it that all these problems arise from unions and other marxists idealogs? And they call us extremists.

[sarasmom]

Born and raised in a town of cars and bars.
Happily now living in a right to work state.
Unions suck.
At one point in historical time, long past, they were needed.
The sad part is they did not disband when they accomplished their initial ethical goals.
They became the enemy (of honest pay for honest labor), in ways the former enemy (Dishonest, unethical employers) would not have dreamed possible.

[Doctor Stochastic]

So, can an Union Projections cry "Smoke!" in a crowded theatre?

[GeronL]

They do not deserve to keep their jobs. Ban the union!!

[donozark]

Another reason for all here to contact their elected Representatives and DEMAND passage of the FREEDOM from UNION VIOLENCE ACT! Under the 1973 SCOTUS ruling in Enmons, vandalism, assault, even murder by union officials are exempt from federal anti-extortion law. As long as the violence is directed at the gaining of property for which the union has a "lawful claim." i.e. Wage gains, benefits,etc. Such gains are deemed "legitimate union objectives." And such violence doesn't count as extortion.

[apillar]

Chlorine tablet + Brake Fluid = Smoke Bomb

I sure many aspiring teenage pranksters thank the author of the story for providing this formula...

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

They don't want all the projectionists jobs going to India.

[Just mythoughts]

Explains why Secretary of Education Paige called them (UNIONS) = terrorists.