Protesters block unloading of Israeli cargo ship in Oakland

Pro-Palestinian protesters on Sunday created a blockade of their own on Sunday by gathering at the Port of Oakland before dawn to block the unloading of an Israeli cargo ship.

Longshoreman working the day shift agreed not to cross the picket line of hundreds of protesters, who were demanding an end to Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip. Protesters planned to stage another rally to halt the offloading for the evening shift. The protesters, organized by the San Francisco Bay Area ANSWER Coalition, was particularly incensed by the action of Israeli commandos to halt a flotilla of ships attempting to run the blockade May 31. Nine people were killed in the military action on the high seas.

The protesters convened about 5:30 a.m., Sunday, only a couple of days after Israel agreed to ease some of the restrictions on goods and relief supplies that can enter Gaza, a Palestinian enclave.

Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union refused to cross the picket line, citing safety concerns. The activists noted that longshoremen have “a long and great history of supporting progressive struggles here and around the world.”

Oakland police reported no arrests from the demonstration.

-- Ken Weiss
 

Comments

[M L PRAY]

"Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union refused to cross the picket line, citing safety concerns.' Each union member that honored the 'picket'? line should be made to watch the movie 'On the Waterfront' with Marlon Brando, how sheepish have the longshoremen become?

[StargazerInSavannah]

Would this be the same communist longshoreman's union once headed by Pelosi hero Harry Bridges?
West coast longshoremen have been a communist front organization for nearly a century. I remember longshoremen as a communist front operation during the early days of WWII.
Bridges and the longshoremen were great supporters of 'uncle Joe Stalin'.

During the days of 'break bulk' cargo the only thing that could get through a West Coast port were the items that were too heavy for the longshoremen to steal.
The greatest contribution of containers has been the securing of cargo from the union thugs.

[James Maxwell]

See how far you get if you try to block my truck or car when I have a delivery to make. I do not tollerate stupidity nor fools stoping me from making a living nor protecting my family. These fools want Israel to permit the Hamas, PLO and other radical terrorist organization to import weapons to kill their citizens. That not going to happen skippie, get out of the way or suffer the consequences.

[Fedup]

This is where immigration should start, with these illegal palestinian protesters who have no right to protest in this country. Ship'em back to gaza and let these moorons protest over there.! Remember these aliens where having a party after 9/11! what a slap on the face to all of us to allow them to protest here let alone live here.

[azzam azzam]

Who let these palestinian terrorists near the port anyhow? I thought the supreme court just settled this. Round em up!

[Are you kdding me?]

Hello? Nobody said that the protesters were Palestinians nor that they were terrorists. Apparently these were folks who are sympathetic to the plight of Palestinians in the face of the might of Israel. Believe it or not (and it's true), there are Israeli citizens who don't support the actions of their government. And the last time I checked, we have a right in this country to have and express differing opinions.

[Naazil K Sain]

This is a good move, People must be free from Isreal (Iron Fist)