USPCN participates in another BDS Victory at the Port of Long Beach – Israeli ship Zim Haifa stopped from unloading

The Israeli owned ship Zim Haifa arrived in Southern California early this morning (Saturday, August 23).  The ship was scheduled to be unloaded today at Pier A of the Port of Long Beach.  Over 250 people from throughout Southern California took part in the Community Picket at the entrance to the Pier called by the Block The Boat – LA Coalition.  We were there to show strong community support for the recent call asking workers around the world to stand in solidarity with Palestinian workers, particularly those in Gaza who have been targeted so brutally by Israel over the last month, and refuse to handle Israeli goods.  This call came from the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU).

We were asking Dock Workers from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to stand in solidarity with their Palestinian sisters and brothers and refuse to unload the Zim Haifa. The picket started at 6:00am and was very colorful and boisterous from the beginning.  At around 8:00am, port workers began to leave and shortly it became clear that the day shift had been called off, meaning that the Zim Haifa would not be unloaded.

Our actions today have sent a clear message that the people of Los Angeles and the surrounding counties will not stand for companies that profit from apartheid, colonialism and occupation to do business here!  The Block the Boat – LA would like to thank first and foremost the Palestinian people, whose resiliency and strength for more than 60 years of brutal Israeli apartheid and occupation inspired us to take action today.  Thanks also to the members of Local 13 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union; our West coast allies from Block the Boat – Oakland and Block the Boat – Tacoma; and of course, the hundreds of community members who stood strong and sent a clear message to Zim shipping and Israel that they are not welcome in Los Angeles!  As South African apartheid fell, Zionism and Israeli apartheid will also fall.

Block the Boat – LA Coalition

Coalition Members:
BDS-LA for Justice in Palestine
American Muslims for Palestine
US Palestinian Community Network
International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network – Labor
Global Women’s Strike
Jewish Voice for Peace – Los Angeles
Al-Awda (The Palestine Right to Return Coalition)
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