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Over a thousand blocking gates at Oakland docks
Over a thousand blocking gates at Oakland docks
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there may be more as the day goes on but those numbers don't match what I saw.
The same article says 1,000, 500 and 300. Talk about not credible.
Nothing in the mainstream media.
Many additional people are planning on coming down to the dock at 2, when the ship is expected in.
Any news regarding counterprotesters or police presence?
Nothing in the mainstream media.
Many additional people are planning on coming down to the dock at 2, when the ship is expected in.
Any news regarding counterprotesters or police presence?
We have waited 62 years for this event, labor picketing an Israeli ship. Steve Zeltzer's excellent live coverage on brightpathvideo.com cited above and linked to the below website,
http://www.transportworkers.org/
shows that not only did the Alameda Central Labor Council make history by endorsing this action but also lots of labor union members joined the picketline, including San Francisco City College professors, clerical workers at the University of California, letter carriers, various construction trades and many more. We also heard interviews in Turkish and a few words from various people in Arabic and Spanish. In the past, at most, we could have hoped for 50 people and no labor endorsement. To hear that anywhere from 300 to 1000 turned out at 5 a.m. on the remote Oakland docks (no public transportation at that hour and no parking allowed) in the bitter cold is very encouraging. Now that Israel has killed 15 people, returning 9 bodies to Turkey and according to eyewitness accounts, throwing overboard 6 bodies who are missing and now presumed dead on a humanitarian aid ship, people in this country finally woke up, although Israel has been massacring and torturing Palestinians and stealing Palestinian land for 62 years with our tax dollars. American workers are also feeling the cutbacks in education and social services while Israel gets $6 billion ANNUALLY from US taxpayers to help the USA make war on the people of the world to steal their resouces, especially oil. Thank you one and all. History is with us; we shall win!
http://www.transportworkers.org/
shows that not only did the Alameda Central Labor Council make history by endorsing this action but also lots of labor union members joined the picketline, including San Francisco City College professors, clerical workers at the University of California, letter carriers, various construction trades and many more. We also heard interviews in Turkish and a few words from various people in Arabic and Spanish. In the past, at most, we could have hoped for 50 people and no labor endorsement. To hear that anywhere from 300 to 1000 turned out at 5 a.m. on the remote Oakland docks (no public transportation at that hour and no parking allowed) in the bitter cold is very encouraging. Now that Israel has killed 15 people, returning 9 bodies to Turkey and according to eyewitness accounts, throwing overboard 6 bodies who are missing and now presumed dead on a humanitarian aid ship, people in this country finally woke up, although Israel has been massacring and torturing Palestinians and stealing Palestinian land for 62 years with our tax dollars. American workers are also feeling the cutbacks in education and social services while Israel gets $6 billion ANNUALLY from US taxpayers to help the USA make war on the people of the world to steal their resouces, especially oil. Thank you one and all. History is with us; we shall win!
Wish I could've been there with you in person but I was with you in spirit!
There was two people with 3 flags across the street: 2 Israeli & 1 American. That was the counter-protest of the afternoon rally.
Of course, the media all interviewed them (to be fair and balanced?). Most major local news networks were there, as was a Spanish language channel, and a couple others.
I wasn't there in the morning, but I'd estimate the crowd-size at around 300+ and that's lowballing.
Of course, the media all interviewed them (to be fair and balanced?). Most major local news networks were there, as was a Spanish language channel, and a couple others.
I wasn't there in the morning, but I'd estimate the crowd-size at around 300+ and that's lowballing.
Report from Peter Turner:
No longshoremen were dispatched for the afternoon shift, and no incidents happened. At the closing rally about 7PM Dick Becker of ANSWER, someone whose name I forget who is the Palestinian honcho at ANSWER, Clarence Thomas of Local 10 and Mike something who communicates with unions abroad spoke about how the picket was broadcast live to Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza, and they sent expressions of solidarity. Also, South African, Norwegian, Swedish, and other national longshore workers have promised to refuse to work Israeli cargo. It's good to know we were first. A great success for what we all fight for - the industrial working class proving that an injury to one is an injury to all. Kudos to the ILWU, where the members of Local 10 (not just the executive board) unanimously agreed to sacrifice a shift of pay for this cause.
No longshoremen were dispatched for the afternoon shift, and no incidents happened. At the closing rally about 7PM Dick Becker of ANSWER, someone whose name I forget who is the Palestinian honcho at ANSWER, Clarence Thomas of Local 10 and Mike something who communicates with unions abroad spoke about how the picket was broadcast live to Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza, and they sent expressions of solidarity. Also, South African, Norwegian, Swedish, and other national longshore workers have promised to refuse to work Israeli cargo. It's good to know we were first. A great success for what we all fight for - the industrial working class proving that an injury to one is an injury to all. Kudos to the ILWU, where the members of Local 10 (not just the executive board) unanimously agreed to sacrifice a shift of pay for this cause.
For more information:
http://www.iww.org
Hey guys, I didn't get to make it out to the demonstration but it looked very powerful. Out of curiosity, about how many of the dock workers actively joined the picket line?
No ILWU #10 members picketed but not due to lack of sympathy . Approx. a week earlier Local !0 (Longshore ) passed a strong resolution condemming the attack on the Flottila , called for lifting the blockade of Gaza and praised the actions planned by the Swedish dockworkers .
But given the legal realities while some members of 10 expressed their strong support to picketers and one , Clarence Thomas spoke at the closing rally .none felt that they could actually join the picket .
Members of other ILWU locals (Warehouse, Inland Boatmen, Ships Clerks ) did actively particpate both in the mass picket and in the planning .
(Contrary to some reports it was a Multi-Union rank and file committee , The TransportWorkers Solidarity Committee that kicked off this effort . )
But given the legal realities while some members of 10 expressed their strong support to picketers and one , Clarence Thomas spoke at the closing rally .none felt that they could actually join the picket .
Members of other ILWU locals (Warehouse, Inland Boatmen, Ships Clerks ) did actively particpate both in the mass picket and in the planning .
(Contrary to some reports it was a Multi-Union rank and file committee , The TransportWorkers Solidarity Committee that kicked off this effort . )
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