The Ports of Oakland have been shut down by a small group of antiwar protesters and organized workers.

Although union arbitrators did not “We did not succeed in winning the arbitration for them, what people saw today was a much more powerful demonstration of solidarity than we had a right to expect,” said Port Action Committee organizer Chris after Longshoremen agreed to walk off the job in honor of the picket.

“The IWU gave up. [longshoremen] gave up hundreds of dollars, time and a half [weekend pay] to respect our picket lines. You need to realize that the IWU stood by us. They didn't win the arbitration [so] each one of them is taking a personal loss to help us here today, to stand with us today.”

PEOPLE ARE NEEDED TO CONVERGE ON THE PORT OF OAKLAND TO CONTINUE THE PICKET AT THE NEXT SHIFT AT 5PM TODAY (Saturday May 19th)

“I think the message is loud and clear,” said one union leader today at the port. “If longshoremen at the Port of Oakland can honor picket lines against the war in Iraq, then they can do that in other ports.”