Remembering the fallen: From left to right. ILWU Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams, Local 13 President JoJo Cortez and Coast Committeeman Ray Ortiz, Jr. at the gravesite of Dickie Parker before the Long Beach picnic.
ILWU members and their families up and down the West Coast gathered to remember “Bloody Thursday” and the martyrs of the 1934 West Coast Waterfront strike, a struggle that would give birth to the ILWU and radically improve wages and working conditions for dock- workers.
For those who don’t know the history, the 1934 strike began on May 9th, as longshoremen in every West Coast port walked out; they were joined by sailors several days later. Violent confrontations between union dockers and police and private security forces took place in ports up and down the West Coast. Although “Bloody Thurs- day” marks the police killing of two strikers on July 5th, 1934 in San Francisco that sparked a general strike, the Bloody Thursday celebration honors the sacrifices of all the workers who gave their lives in the 1934 strikes in Wilmington, Seattle, San Francisco, Smith Cove and Hong Kong.
Southern California
The Southern California Bloody Thursday celebration began at 9 am with a memorial service at Roosevelt Memorial Park in Gardena, where Dickie Parker and John Knudsen are buried. Parker and Knudsen were the first dockworkers to give their lives for the union in 1934. At midnight on May 15th, 300 union strikers con- fronted a group of scab workers with the intent of evicting them from their encampment at Berth 145 in Wilmington. Parker and Knudsen were fatally shot in the altercation.
Local 13 Executive Board member Angel Blanco organized the memorial service which was attended by 100 ILWU members, pensioners and their families. Local 13 member and pastor, Leon Dool, gave the eulogy to honor the sacrifice of Parker and Knudsen. “There is no greater sacrifice then to give your life for your brother,” Dool said. “This should not be a somber occasion. We are here to recognize the sacrifice of the ’34 strikers and to celebrate the fact that generations of work- ers benefited from their struggle.”
International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams also spoke at the ceremony. “There is no union like the ILWU. What we have today we owe to the sacrifices of the 1934 martyrs. Parker and Knudsen weren’t fighting for a bigger house; they were fight- ing for dignity and respect. Because of what happened on that night in Wilmington, a spark was ignited up and down the West Coast,” Adams said.
Following the ceremony, a funeral procession of 60 classic cars and motor- cycles made its way from Roosevelt Memorial Park to Long Beach for the Bloody Thursday picnic. An estimated 3,500 ILWU members, pensioners, casuals, friends and family attended this year’s picnic which featured live music and special dance performances featuring Polynesian, Folklorico, Hip- Hop and Croatian dancers.
There was plenty of entertainment for the kids including a jump-house and slide, face painting, arts and crafts, games, cotton candy, sno-cones and free train rides. For the third year in a row, the Long Beach Fire Department cooked hotdogs and hamburgers for the event.
Speeches were kept to a minimum at the picnic. Local 13 President JoJo Cortez gave a brief welcoming and City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who was elected to Congress in a special election on July 12th, presented Lifetime Achievement awards from the City of Los Angeles to ILWU pensioners Jerry Brady, Lou Loveridge and Steve Bebich.
San Francisco
Bay Area Pensioner President, George Cobb, was the Master of Ceremonies in San Francisco.
Bloody Thursday celebrations at Local 10 are always special because San Francisco is where two workers – Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise – were killed on July 5, 1934 during the waterfront strike that triggered a sub- sequent general strike. These events helped win a coastwise longshore con- tract and established the union which became today’s ILWU.
Seventy-seven years after those seminal events in 1934, a contingent of active members, pensioners, family and friends gathered in front of Local 10 on the morning of July 5th to honor their fallen martyrs. Like previous Bloody Thursday events, the Bay Area Longshoremen’s Memorial Association organized the activities.
Pensioner George Cobbs served as Master of Ceremonies, introducing a dozen speakers. The ceremony began with the playing of “taps” by member Scott Barton, and was followed by a snazzy routine from Local 10’s famous Drill Team. A delightful and flawless rendition of the national anthem was delivered by the talented 10-year- old Aaliyah Washington-Purry who warmed-up the mic for veteran crooner Paul ‘from da hall” Williams who sang his version of “Amazing Grace.”
Local 10 President Richard Mead delivered a short but sobering speech that connected the “lessons of ‘34” with the urgent challenges facing longshore workers today – including automation of the ports and the need to expand jurisdictional thinking to include more types of port work. Vice President Mike Villeggiante thanked volunteers and highlighted the family activities that followed the ceremony – including a catered sit-down lunch plus events for hundreds of children that included magic shows, clowns, face painting and balloon animals. President Sean Farley delivered a heartfelt greeting from the Clerks at Local 34, as did Henry Gra- ham on behalf of the Walking Bosses and Foremen at Local 91.
Emcee Geoge Cobbs made a point of acknowledging other ILWU leaders including Fred Pecker of Local 6, Pat- ric Kim of Local 75, and Marina Secchitano of the Inlandboatmen’s Union (IBU). A pantheon of respected pensioners were then invited to the micro- phone, including Cleophus Williams, Joe Lucas, Richard Cavalli, and George Romero. Pensioner Ralph Rooker raised some eyebrows but won a solid round of applause after he criticized some Local 10 members for working double and triple-shifts while their co- workers went without work – a practice Rooker said was contrary to the goals of the 1934 strike.
After actor Ian Ruskin shared some highlights of his forthcoming play about the life of the American revolutionary Thomas Paine, an award was announced to Local 10 member Sheila Rischer, the local’s first female lineman.
The event also featured two local political VIP’s. San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee presented an official proclamation recognizing Bloody Thursday and the ongoing contributions of ILWU members. David Chiu, President of San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors, was also on hand to thank ILWU members for their courage and willingness to fight for important social issues.
The day ended with a bay cruise – made possible in part thanks to labor that was generously donated by Blue & Gold crewmembers who belong to the Inlandboatmen’s Union.
Seattle
Kids and adults took in some beach volleyball game at the Seattle-area picnic.
Hundreds of ILWU families gathered in Vasa Park. The picnic was sponsored by Locals 19, 52, 98 and the Credit Union. The family friendly event included plenty of entertainment for the kids including face painting and games. There was also live music, BBQ and free sodas provided. An estimated 1,300 people turned out for the celebration.
Portland
ILWU families in Portland have a tradition of beginning their Bloody Thursday picnics with a ceremony to honor the 1934 martyrs by setting a memorial wreath of flowers in the Columbia River that is carried by the current to the Pacific Ocean. The playing of “taps” at this year’s ceremony was performed by Local 8 member and trumpeter Paul Brainnard; an invocation was provided by Vice President Barbara Lewis of the Columbia River Pensioners.
Officials at the Oaks Park picnic site estimated over 2,000 participants attended this year’s ILWU event. The impressive turnout estimate was confirmed by the immense quantity of food that was consumed: 1 ton of watermelons, 42 gallons of chili, 1760 hot dogs, 48 cases of corn on the cob, 1900 ice cream bars and 75 cases of drinks.
Local 8 President Jeff Smith gave a short speech connecting the legacy of 1934 to present-day struggles including the fight for good jobs at EGT across the river in Longview. Local 8 member David Porter presented a plaque from the ILWU- sponsored softball team that finished their season with an impressive 13-0 record.
Musical entertainment was pro- vided by the Rogue River Band, led by Local 8 member David Degman, Sr. Bingo games were provided by members of Auxiliary #5. A raffle held during the picnic gave out some impressive prizes including a Las Vegas trip for two, a 42” TV, a Wii game and other gifts.
Volunteers who helped make the day a success included John and Denise Miken, Tom and Penny Wehage, Nancy Doyon, Leah Dinsmore, Steffen Hill, Jim Burton, Joanne Gornick Bruce Holte, Ashley Hill, Shelby Palmer, members of Auxiliary 5, and many more.