ILWU pensioners Herb Mills from Local 10 and Nick Granich from Local 34 attended a ceremony at San Francisco’s City Hall on May 13th, 2010, marking the 50th anniversary of a protest by students and trade unionists that changed history. In 1960, the United States was still plagued by Cold War hysteria that allowed bigots, employers and anti-union politicians to persecute dissidents, activists, and anyone accused of having left-wing political views – including many ILWU members. On the afternoon of Friday, May13, San Francisco police used high-pressure fire hoses on singing students who were seated, washing many down the steps and beating others with clubs.
Activists revisit the City Hall steps where they protested 50 years ago.
Sixty four were arrested but none were convicted as public sympathy turned against the anti-communist witch-hunt hearings organized by HUAC, which never held another hearing outside of Washington. “It was the beginning of student activism in the 60’s, and marked the end of the Cold War because people were finally willing to stand up in numbers and challenge the witch-hunters and bigots.