Today, SR Holguin, PC honored the 86th anniversary of “Bloody Thursday.” Bloody Thursday “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.”
On May 9, 1934, “longshoremen in every West Coast port walked out; they were joined by sailors several days later…At midnight on May 15th, 300 union strikers confronted a group of scab workers with the intent of evicting them from their encampment at Berth 145 in Wilmington. [Dickie] Parker and [John] Knudsen were fatally shot in the altercation…Parker and Knudsen were the first dockworkers to give their lives for the union.” On July 5, 1934 in San Francisco “two workers – Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise – were killed during the waterfront strike that triggered a subsequent general strike. These events helped win a coast-wide longshore contract and established the union which became today’s ILWU.”
SR Holguin, PC has proudly represented Southern California locals of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for over 32 years.
In the past, Bloody Thursday events have consisted of a horseshoe tournament, golf tournament, and softball tournament leading up to a graveside memorial, and car procession, culminating in a picnic. However, this year, due to public health guidance, all events except the graveside memorial and car procession were canceled.
Today, the graveside memorial and car procession were held. ILWU members lined up their classic cars and motorcycles at the ILWU Casual Hall and drove to Roosevelt Memorial Park where Parker and Knudsen are buried. Lead by funeral escorts and a hearse, the ILWU motorcade drove by the men’s graves. Then a small, invitation-only graveside memorial was held with remarks made by Pacific Coast Pensioners Associations’ Poet Laureate, and officers from ILWU Locals 13, 63, 94, and Southern California Pensioners Group.
SR Holguin, PC is deeply committed to the labor movement and mourns the loss of those who laid down their lives so that others may prosper.
Fraternally,
SR Holguin, PC