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Historic Victory – Mass Picket Blocks Unloading of Israeli Ship
2nd Mass Picket, 4:30 p.m., TODAY
Sunday, June 20, 4:30 p.m.
Berth 58, Port of Oakland
Logistics/Transportation details at end of message
Today for the first time ever an Israeli ship was boycotted in a U.S. port. More than 800 spirited picketers gathered at 5:30 a.m. today, blocking four entrances to the Stevedore Services of America terminal in the Port of Oakland. Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 10, citing safety concerns, refused to cross the picket lines. The ILWU has a long and great history of supporting progressive struggles here and around the world.
We are calling of everyone to come to the 4:30 p.m. picket line to continue the boycott of the Israeli ship. The evening shift is being assigned the bulk of the work for unloading the ship. Please forward this announcement to everyone you know!
Protest Israel’s Attack on the Gaza Freedom Flotilla!
Boycott Israeli Ships and Goods!
Lift the Blockade NOW – Let Gaza Live!
Bring Down Israel's Apartheid Wall!
Unions, labor federations and other organizations around the world have condemned Israel’s deadly attack against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31, 2010. Nine people were killed and dozens seriously injured in the Israeli commando attack in international waters on ships attempting to bring humanitarian cargo to the suffering and blockaded people of Gaza. Six people aboard the ships are still missing and presumed dead.
Israel maintains a deadly blockade against 1.5 million people in Gaza, with claims ranging from the control of weapons to achieving demographic superiority in favor of Israel ’s occupation. The construction of the apartheid wall in the West Bank aims to create Jewish-only colonies on Palestinian territories. Israel’s foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman, rose to prominence calling for the expulsion of the indigenous Palestinian people living in the borders of the Israeli green line.
Along with dock workers from Sweden and Norway, calls from Malaysia, and following previous actions from liberated South Africa, we will picket the arrival of Israel’s Zim ship liner. In San Francisco in 1984, a picket line and refusal by dockworkers to unload a ship carrying South African cargo was a key event in mobilizing the anti-apartheid movement worldwide. We will be picketing the Zim ship and asking the workers to do the same with apartheid Israel.
An Injury to One is an Injury to All
Israeli apartheid must fall!
We call on everyone who stands for justice and against occupation and apartheid to join the June 20 mass picket at the Port of Oakland.
Labor / Community Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People:
Arab American Union Members Council, ANSWER- Act Now to Stop War and End Racism, Palestine Youth Network, US Palestine Community Network, Al Awda- Right to Return Coalition, Arab Youth Organization, MECA-Middle East Children's Alliance, SJP-Students for Justice in Palestine, AROC-Arab Resource and Organizing Center, ISM-International Solidarity Movement, San Jose Peace and Justice Center, International Socialist Organization, Peace and Freedom Party - SF, Transport Workers Solidarity Committee, Bay Area US Labor Against the War, Bay Area Committee for Peace and Justice, Barrio Unido, Movement for Unconditional Amnesty for All Immigrant Workers, National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and Occupation, Friends of Deir Ibzi’a, Socialist Viewpoint, FMLN in Northern California, San Jose Justice for Palestinians, Code Pink – SF, World Can’t Wait – SF, International Action Center, Uhuru Solidarity Movement, Skyline Against Cuts, Industrial Workers of the World –SF, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Social Justice Committee, QUIT!- Queers Undermining Israeli Terrorism, Fred Hirsch, Executive Board Member of Plumbers & Fitters Local 393, Delegate to the south Bay AFL -CIO Labor Council, and many labor activists in the Bay Area.
Important Transportation/Logistics Information
The Israeli Zim Lines ship is scheduled to dock at Berth 58, Stevedore Services of America terminal on Middle Harbor Rd., the cross street is Maritime St. in the Port of Oakland. The cross street is Maritime St.
Berth 58 is about a mile from the West Oakland BART station. There is free parking available at the BART station and on nearby streets. We will have shuttles from the BART station to the picket line.
If you are carpooling, carpool drivers should drop their passengers off at the corner of Middle Harbor and Maritime St. and then proceed to the BART station to park. Drivers may be asked to shuttle more people from BART to the picket line. The drivers will be shuttled to the picket line after they park at the BART station.
Car pooling coordination: Chris, 510-282-7032
Driving Directions to Berth 58
From San Francisco: Take the connector exit toward I880 right after coming off the Bay Bridge. Take the first exit off the connector, West Grand Ave/Maritime St. Turn right onto Maritime St. and follow Maritime to the intersection of Maritime and Middle Harbor Rd. After dropping off passengers, continue east on Middle Harbor Rd. Middle Harbor turns into Adeline, continue on Adeline a short distance and turn left on 7th St., go 2 blocks to the West Oakland BART Station.
From Oakland: Follow Adeline St. south into the port, where it turns into Middle Harbor Rd. Follow Middle Harbor Rd. to the Berth 58, corner of Maritime St. See directions above for getting back to the W. Oakland BART station.
From South Bay: Take I880 north to the Market St. exit toward the Harbor Terminals. Turn left onto Adeline St. Adeline turns into Middle Harbor Road, go about 1 mile to the intersection of Maritime St./Berth 58.
From Berkeley/Richmond/North Bay/Sacramento, etc: Take I-80 west to Exit 8A, West Grand Ave. toward Maritime St. Turn right onto Maritime St, go 2 miles to intersection of Middle Harbor Rd./Berth 58.
For drivers going directly to West Oakland BART: West Oakland BART is at the corner of 7th St. and Mandela Parkway.
Link to map of West Oakland
Updates on the actions:
http://www.transportworkers.org
http://www.ANSWERsf.org
Legal Hotline: 415-285-1011
For questions: 415-821-6545