Israeli Ship Blocked from Unloading - in Oakland Calif. - Maybe

[abduLMaria]

I still don't quite believe this.

I'm thinking it can't be real.

email from ANSWER -
"Israeli Ship Blocked from Unloading"
In a historic action and unprecedented action today, over 800 labor and community activists blocked the gates of the Oakland docks in the early morning hours, prompting longshore workers to refuse to cross the picketlines where they were scheduled to unload an Israeli ship.

From 5:30 am to 9:30 am, a militant and spirited protest was held in front of four gates of the Stevedore Services of America, with people chanting non-stop, "Free, Free Palestine, Don't Cross the Picket Line," and "An injury to one is an injury to all, bring down the apartheid wall."

Citing the health and safety provisions of their contract, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union workers refused to cross the picketline to report for duty.

Between 8:30 and 9:00 am, an emergency arbitration was conducted at the Maersk parking lot nearby, with an "instant" arbitrator called to the site to rule on whether the workers could refuse to cross the picketline without disciplinary measure.

At 9:15 a.m, after again reviewing the protests of hundreds at each gate, the arbitrator ruled in favor of the union that it was indeed unsafe for the workers to enter the docks.

To loud cheers of "Long Live Palestine!" Jess Ghannam of Free Palestine Alliance and Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition announced the victory. Ghannam said, "This is truly historic, never before has an Israeli ship been blocked in the United States!"

The news that a container ship from the Zim Israeli shipping line was scheduled to arrive in the Bay Area today has sparked a tremendous outpouring of solidarity for Palestine, especially in the aftermath of the Israeli massacre of volunteers bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza on May 31.

With 10 days advance notice of the ship's arrival, the emergency "Labor/Community Committee in Solidarity with the Palestinian People" was set up. On Wednesday, some 110 people from unions and community came to help organize logistics, outreach and community support. Initiating organizations included the Al-Awda Palestine Right to Return Coalition, the ANSWER Coalition, the Bay Area Labor Chapter of USLAW and the Bay Area Labor Committee for Peace & Justice.

This week the San Francisco Labor Council and Alameda Labor Council passed resounding resolutions denouncing Israel's blockade of Gaza. Both councils sent out public notices of the dock action.

The ILWU has a proud history of extending its solidarity to struggling peoples the world over. In 1984, as the Black masses of South Africa were engaged in an intense struggle against South African apartheid, the ILWU refused for a record-setting 10 days to unload cargo from the South African "Ned Lloyd" ship. Despite million-dollar fines imposed on the union, the longshore workers held strong, providing a tremendous boost to the anti-apartheid movement.

Today's Oakland action, in the sixth largest port in the United States, is the first of several protests and work stoppages planned around the world, including Norway, Sweden and South Africa. It is sure to inspire others to do the same.

The goal is for a 24-hour shutdown of the docks where the Israeli ship is docked, so the protest is planned again for 4:30 p.m."

[superzebra]

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3908155,00.html

but the problom that is all the protesters are arabs or muslims.

arabs protesters are joke..we need real americans...not arabs ....

[abduLMaria]

http://www.adl.org/main_Anti_Israel/iac ... ounder.htm

well, Answer got themselves a page at the ADL, that's a sign of doing something right.

i said "maybe" because i wasn't sure if it was real - i woke up and there's this one small piece of good news.

to be honest, i think it's a pretty multi-cultural bunch BUT there's only one way to find out !

sorry about the double post - sometimes the web page locks up when you post & sits there for 5 minutes.  i'm not sure if that's normal or a sign of the moral infants in Herzliya tampering with TIU.

[Rory27]

but the problom that is all the protesters are arabs or muslims.

arabs protesters are joke..we need real americans...not arabs ....

Hopefully THIS is a Joke...Right?...Only 'real americans' can support palestinians :crazy:    ...Two head scarfs and you just lose your mind :roll:

[GordZilla]

but the problom that is all the protesters are arabs or muslims.

arabs protesters are joke..we need real americans...not arabs ....

Hopefully THIS is a Joke...Right?...Only 'real americans' can support palestinians :crazy:    ...Two head scarfs and you just lose your mind :roll:

I think he meant ;  to the average American, it doesn't carry as much weight for them to see Muslims protesting as it does White or Black Americans protesting. To a certain extent  that may be true, after all a lot of Americans still  believe Muslims did 9-11, so for them to see Muslims protest anything will not make them feel too sympathetic to whatever cause they may be protesting. I think he has a point on that  (unfortunately, but probably true). Although I do see some White Americans in the picture.

P.S Superzebra is an Arab Palestinian

[superzebra]

GORZLLIA.THIS EXCATLY MY POINT.

for me arab who is protesting in support of palestine issue or whatever, it does not matter:" Americans still believe Muslims did 9-11, so for them to see Muslims protest anything will not make them feel too sympathetic to whatever cause they may be protesting."
also in this fourm i hope that there is only 10% max arabs or muslims..