JUNE 2020 INFORME DEL SECRETARIO TESORERO “No Puedo Respirar.”
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Published by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union www.ilwu.org VOL 78, NO 6 • JUNE 2020 THE INSIDE NEWS Secretary-Treasurer’s report 2 Seattle, Portland and Tacoma commemorate Juneteenth with marches and rallies 6 Port of Long Beach delivers 46,000 masks to Local 13 offices 8 TRANSITIONS 8 BOOKS & VIDEOS 8 Photo by Brooke Anderson March towards justice: The Local 10 Drill Team kept the pace for the three-mile march from the Port of Oakland to City Hall. ILWU stands down at West Coast ports for IEB meets via video conference page 5 historic Juneteenth action to honor Black lives his is a movement!” said was to raise awareness about Ameri- Born in the Bay Area ILWU International Pres- ca’s legacy of racism that began with The Bay Area march and rally ident Willie Adams, who slavery in 1619, is woven into the was organized by ILWU Locals 10 T nation’s founding documents, caused was invited to speak from the and 34, where Presidents Trent Wil- a Civil War that killed 850,000 Amer- back of a flatbed truck by Local lis and Keith Shanklin encouraged icans which was followed by a cen- locals up and down the coast to par- 10 and 34 leaders as thousands tury of universal discrimination and ticipate in a united stand-down on of marchers assembled to com- sometimes brutal repression – the June 19. Their effort won backing memorate Juneteenth on a remainders of which are stubbornly from all longshore locals, the Inter- sunny morning outside the Port persistent today – 400 years after the national Union, the Inlandboatmen’s of Oakland’s SSA Terminal. first African slaves were brought to Union, and ILWU Canada – along North America. “Young people are taking to the with dozens of community groups. streets all over the world. They are Killing that sparked a movement ‘Say their names’ militant; they are smart, and they The stand-down was an act of The morning rally kicked-off a are marching without apology,” said solidarity with millions of people three-mile march from the port to Adams, who was accompanied by across America and around the world Oscar Grant Plaza at Oakland City International Secretary-Treasurer Ed who joined protests against racist Hall. Before noon, a sea of protesters Ferris and International Executive police violence, sparked by the brutal left the SSA terminal and streamed Board member Melvin Mackay. killing of unarmed man George Floyd down Middle Harbor Boulevard, Ongoing struggle against racism at the hands of Minneapolis police. marching behind the Local 10 ban- Floyd’s brutal murder was caught The June 19th event was part of ner and the Local 10 Drill Team. on a cell phone video and triggered a historic coastwise stand-down that The atmosphere was festive but defi- continuous protests and demands for reached from the Port of San Diego ant. Marchers chanted, sang songs, sweeping reform of the criminal jus- up to Vancouver, Canada. The goal beat drums, and joined call-and- tice system. continued on page 4 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6800. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, DISPATCHER • JUNE 2020 1 SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORT “I can’t breathe.” hese three words seem- George Floyd. If she had not, one on perceived race and/or ethnic- ingly can’t get out of my could argue that the current wave of ity that defines one group as domi- head. Quite honestly, increased social activism and pub- nant to and more deserving than all T lic demand for police reform in this other groups. In this system, there is they have haunted me ever country would not exist. a dominant group (e.g. whites) and since I witnessed the recent I never met George Floyd, but there are subordinate groups includ- public police execution of after watching the video of his death ing Native Americans, Black Ameri- George Floyd on May 25, 2020. cans, Lantinx, and Asian Americans. by law enforcement, I shamefully ILWU International Racism is rooted in historical oppres- That is the day that former Min- realized that I personally haven’t Secretary-Treasurer sion (e.g. genocide of Native Ameri- neapolis policeman Derek Chauvin done enough to advocate for the Ed Ferris murdered Mr. George Floyd by significant changes and reforms cans, enslavement of Africans) such applying an illegal and unjustifiable required to end systemic racism. that subordinate groups were and are choke hold. You see, it isn’t enough to just defined as “inferior” to the “superior” That is the day that he knelt be kind, courteous, and decent to all dominant white group. The domi- “What is systemic racism or institutional racism?” with his full body weight on George people. It isn’t enough to not possess nant group created and currently Floyd’s neck for eight minutes and hate in your heart. It isn’t enough maintains societal privilege through Institutional racism is when soci- 46 seconds. to treasure diversity or inclusion, or values, behaviors, and institutions. etal institutions engage in practices This privilege results in subordinate that favor the dominant group and That is the day that three other have friends of all different types of groups lacking access to power, sta- practices that are biased against sub- former Minneapolis policemen ethnicities. We all must do more. tus, and resources.” ordinate groups. It is important to openly ignored Derek Chauvin’s In my opinion, we must collectively acknowledge that institutional racism criminal behavior. They all quietly recognize the vast societal inequities “One of the most common mis- in one domain reinforces institu- watched a man be choked to death that exist in the U.S. and eliminate conceptions about racism is that it tional racism in other domains, pro- by their co-worker and shamefully, them if we ever are going to experi- is based solely on individual acts. viding an interconnected system did not intervene at all. ence true equality, justice, and peace Many people believe that a few indi- vidual “bad apples” are racist or that constantly reinforces each other That is the day that George for all of our people. engage in racist behaviors. In fact, while reproducing racial disparities Floyd’s humanity was ignored by the The Problem of Systemic Racism racism is baked into our society across the lifespan. I would argue very people who were paid to protect in the United States and in the institutions that make that institutional racism is more and serve the public. In a June 23, 2020 ASU NOW up our society, including schools, dangerous than individual racism Fortunately for all of us, that is interview, Arizona State University neighborhoods, workplaces, banks, because institutional racism cre- also the day that a courageous teen- Associate Professor Eleanor Seaton health care, the media, and policing ates environments that dictate every ager, Ms. Darnella Frazier, filmed clearly explains that, “Racism is a systems.” continued on page 3 Derek Chauvin’s cruel murder of system of power and privilege based Fellow workers, Comrades, Sisters, and Brothers recently had the opportu- ment from law enforcement person- fear of law enforcement officers by nity to attend the memorial nel or the criminal justice system. It minorities in the United States. We service for George Floyd in has led to the shameful fact that the all shouldn’t have to hope, pray, and I U.S. has 25% of the world’s prison depend that there is someone with a Houston, Texas on June 8, population, but only 5% of the global cell phone nearby ready to assist and 2020. It was an incredible population. protect us in times of need. experience that I will never There are currently several laws Enough is enough. “We the forget. that help to perpetuate the dispa- people” have made significant posi- ILWU International Secretary- rate treatment of minorities by law tive changes in the world by protest- Treasurer Ed Ferris, Tyrone Harvey enforcement. One such judicial ing over several weeks against police (19), and myself met with several doctrine is called “Qualified Immu- brutality and racism. This effort must ILA officers and members who were nity,” and it must be eliminated. This continue if we are ever going to have also disgusted by the recent police law protects government officials true equality, justice, and peace for murder of George Floyd. I greatly from lawsuits alleging that the offi- all of the people living in our nation. appreciate the hospitality and soli- cial violated a plaintiff’s rights, and In solidarity, darity that our delegation received only allows for lawsuits where offi- throughout our trip to Houston. cials violated a “clearly established” Melvin Mackay It is a longstanding truth that far statutory or constitutional right. If International Executive Board member too many members of our popula- Qualified immunity is not elimi- tion do not receive the same treat- nated, there will always mistrust and Correction: Alaska Longshore Division President Dennis Young informs us that the photos appearing on page 4 of the May Dispatcher, “Workers arrested in campaign for good jobs,” should be credited to Alaska Unit 60 member Erik Moore. ILWU TITLED OFFICERS The Dispatcher (ISSN 0012-3765) is published monthly except for a combined July/Aug issue, for Craig Merrilees William E. Adams, President $5.00 a year and $10.00 a year for non-members by the ILWU, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, Communications Director and Managing Editor CA 94109. Periodical postage paid at San Francisco, CA. The Dispatcher welcomes letters, Bobby Olvera, Jr., Vice President, Mainland photos and other submissions to the above address © ILWU, 2012.