Dockers respond to Israel's Flotilla Massacre and Gaza Siege

http://www.labournet.net/docks2/1007/blockade1.html
Blockade: Dockers respond to Israel’s Flotilla Massacre and Gaza Siege

Report by Greg Dropkin
Published: 09/07/10

Three weeks after the massacre on the Freedom Flotilla, ILWU dockworkers in the San Francisco Bay area delayed an Israeli Zim Lines ship for 24 hours, the Swedish Dockworkers Union began a week-long blockade of Israeli ships and containers, dockers in the Port of Cochin, India, refused to handle Israeli cargo, and the Turkish dockworkers union Liman-Is announced their members would refuse to service any Israeli shipping. In South Africa, Durban dockers had already boycotted a Zim Lines ship in response to the invasion of Gaza last year.

Don't Sleep In, Make History! Join the Labor and Community Picket of an Israeli Ship—Oakland

Sunday, June 20, 5:30 a.m.
Port of Oakland, Berth 58, Middle Harbor Rd

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.

Palestinian Trade Union Movement Calls on International Dockworkers Unions to Block Loading/Offloading Israeli Ships Until Israel Complies Fully with International Law and Ends its Illegal Siege of Gaza

As the San Francisco Chief of Police George Gascon rushes from one community group to another offering "apologies and clarifications" of "misunderstandings" for the second week in the diverse city of San Francisco, members of The Arab American Union Members Council continue to be appalled by San Francisco Police Chief George Gascon's March 24 remarks. Gascon spoke, allegedly in favor of an earthquake-retrofitting bill, alleging that the Hall of Justice is susceptible to "members of the city's Middle Eastern community parking a van in front of it and blowing it up." (San Francisco Chronicle, March 26, 2010)

Gascon later attempted to "clarify" his comments by claiming his remarks did not apply to the entire Arab, Muslim and broader Middle Eastern community, but instead to the Yemeni and Afghan communities in San Francisco - blatantly singling out these communities for further targeting, discrimination and injustice.

Press Release: Congressmen View Destruction in Gaza
Thursday, 19 February 2009
http://ellison.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=210&I...

Gaza, Palestinian Territories – Two Members of Congress, Keith Ellison (D-Minnesota) and Brian Baird (D-Washington) visited Gaza on Thursday to view first-hand the destruction from recent Israeli air and ground attacks, and to meet with international and local relief agencies.

The visit, which did not have the official sanction of the Obama Administration, is the first time anyone from the United States government has entered into Gaza in more than three years.

Prior to entering Gaza, the Congressmen met with the chief negotiator of the Palestinian Authority, and traveled to the West Bank city of Ramallah to meet with Dr. Riad Malki, Foreign Minister of the Palestinian Authority.