California activists target Israeli ships at ports

Thu Aug 14, 2014 3:56AM GMT

 

Ross Frasier, Press TV, Los Angeles

Fact Corner

• Demonstrators on the U-S West Coast are organizing to protest Israeli shipping companies delivering goods. Using the slogan "Zionism is not welcome on our coast", the demonstrators say they plan to fight Israeli apartheid by blocking boats and stopping trucks.

Trucks are stopping at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, where activists are assembling to end Israeli apartheid. 

 

The Israeli shipping line Zim uses this port to dock ships and unload cargo. The protest is the first in a series of actions targeting the ports on America’s west coast. There are also demonstrations scheduled for Oakland, California and Seattle and Tacoma in Washington State. Garrick Ruiz with Boycott, Divest and Sanction Los Angeles says Israel should not be making profits while bombing the people of Gaza. Ruiz says they want truck drivers to leave Israeli goods on the docks. Previous port actions helped to end apartheid in South Africa. Protesters say west coast ports have the opportunity to send the same message to Israel. The majority of port truck drivers are migrant workers, many from Central America. Organizers say because of this, drivers often come together on social issues. Organizers say they want the owners of Zim to know that for them, the west coast ports are officially closed. Four years ago, protesters successfully stopped two Zim ships from unloading at the port of Oakland. Activists say they plan to stop even more ships this time, from Long Beach to Seattle.

 

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