Gene Viernes

Gene Allen Viernes (August 16, 1951 – June 1, 1981) was a Seattle-based Filipino American labor activist best known for his efforts to reform Local 37, the Seattle chapter of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), and for having been murdered in 1981, in retaliation for organizing against Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his wife Imelda Marcos.

Viernes was born in Wapato, Washington, in 1952 to a family of ten children. His father was a Filipino immigrant, and his mother was white. Viernes grew up on a farm and did seasonal labor in agriculture and in canneries in Alaska. Viernes met Silme Domingo through his cannery work and became involved in reform efforts in the Cannery Workers and Farm Laborers Union, Local 7, Cannery and Farm Laborers Union (ILWU Local 37) and the Democratic Union of Filipinos (KDP). On June 1, 1981, Viernes and Domingo were shot by two gunmen in their office at the Local 37 hall in Pioneer Square, Seattle, Pioneer Square. Viernes died instantly, but Domingo was able to chase the attackers out of the hall and named them to a firefighter. Domingo died from his wounds the next day. Family and friends established the Committee for Justice for Domingo and Viernes and fought a ten-year legal battle, in which they successfully proved that the murders had been arranged by Local 37 president Tony Baruso on behalf of the Marcos regime.

Viernes and Domingo were among the 14 Marcos Martial Law era martyrs to be honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani memorial wall on November 30, 2011.

See also

* Martial Law in the Philippines under Ferdinand Marcos
* Silme Domingo
* Violeta Marasigan
* Cindy Domingo

References

1951 births
1981 deaths
People from Yakima, Washington
Trade unionists from Washington (state)
American trade unionists of Filipino descent
People murdered in Washington (state)
Marcos martial law victims
Individuals honored at the Bantayog ng mga Bayani
International Longshore and Warehouse Union people
Murdered trade unionists

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