Photo: Greenpeace via San Antonio Bay Waterkeeper

In these days of domineering corporate rule, where can we commoners go to find even a little bit of justice?

Right where they’ve been found throughout human history: Within ourselves. Specifically, in our rebellious spirit, our willingness to confront the greedheads and boneheads who feel entitled to run roughshod over us.

For example, The Formosa Four.

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You probably haven’t heard of them, since the mass media powers don’t cover something as consequential and uplifting as a nation of Davids challenging Goliath – such as “The Formosa Four.” They are members of a tenacious and scrappy coalition that has dared to confront one of the most flagrant corporate criminals on the globe: Formosa Plastics. It’s a $6 billion-a-year profiteer that constantly and carelessly spews millions of tons of plastic contaminants into our environment and ourselves.

But last summer, the bully tried to play victim. When about 70 protestors defiantly converged on Formosa’s US headquarters in New Jersey, corporate executives had four of the leaders arrested and charged with criminal trespass – a power play to prevent free speech and scare off future protestors.

Yes, a global behemoth that’s a deadly polluter and serial human rights violator had our government arrest and prosecute grassroots critics for the “high crime” of trespassing. Such is the pettiness – but liberty-busting seriousness – of today’s arrogant forces of plutocracy.

Justice fighters, though, aren’t easily spooked by bullies, and the movement succeeded last week in having all charges dismissed. As one protester said, it takes “regular people putting their bodies on the line to make these things happen. One victory today, and many more in the future.” For more information, go to Formosa4.org.

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