Thousands of dockworkers gathered on Friday, July 5, to mark what’s known as “Bloody Thursday,” the founding of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union that loads and unloads cargo from the ships that call at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Friday began with a trip to the Roosevelt Memorial Park in Gardena, where San Pedro High School graduate Dickie Parker and Lomita resident John Knudsen are buried. Both union supporters died in 1934 during a strike when they joined a group that confronted replacement workers on the Wilmington docks on May 14. Parker was 20 and Knudsen 43 when they were killed in the bloody confrontation.
In honor of Bloody Thursday a funeral procession of classic cars drove from the cemetery where Dickie Parker who and John Knudsen are buried, to the picnic taking place in San Pedro. The procession made its way along Vermont Avenue in Harbor City on Friday, July 5, 2024.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
In honor of Bloody Thursday a funeral procession of classic cars drove from the cemetery where Dickie Parker who and John Knudsen are buried, to the picnic taking place in San Pedro. The procession made its way along Vermont Avenue in Harbor City on Friday, July 5, 2024.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
In honor of Bloody Thursday a funeral procession of classic cars drove from the cemetery where Dickie Parker who and John Knudsen are buried, to the picnic taking place in San Pedro. The procession made its way along Vermont Avenue in Harbor City on Friday, July 5, 2024.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Sesi Saavedra sings the National Anthem at the grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Gary Herrera, President of ILWU Local 13 speaks at the grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Councilmember Tim McOsker speaks at the grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Greg Mitre, President, ILWU Pensioners Association speaks at the grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the ILWU union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Jerry Brady reads the poem, First Bloodshed that tells the story of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Games galore for those who wanted to play, at the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Sal DiCostanzo speaks at the opening of the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Giannina De Laura, on her way to winning a match in the Bocce Ball tournament during the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The VFW, Wilmington chapter presented the American Flag during the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Children play in a bounce house during the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A classic car show was a highlight during the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
In honor of Bloody Thursday a funeral procession of classic cars drove from the cemetery where Dickie Parker who and John Knudsen are buried, to the picnic taking place in San Pedro. The procession made its way along Vermont Avenue in Harbor City on Friday, July 5, 2024.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
ILWU members and their families bow their heads in prayer at the grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Greg Mitre, President, ILWU Pensioners Association speaks at the grave of Dickie Parker who along with John Knudsen gave their lives during the 1934 West Coast waterfront strike which led to the union of today, 90 years ago. The day known as Bloody Thursday began at the cemetery honoring the two men in Gardena on Friday, July 5, 2024, then a funeral procession of classic cars drove to the picnic taking place in San Pedro.
(Photo by Brittany M. Solo Press-Telegram/SCNG)
A classic car show was a highlight during the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
The Latin Soul Band performs during the Bloody Thursday picnic at 22nd Street Park in San Pedro on Wednesday, July 5, 2023. It is an annual remembrance day observed by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on July 5 to commemorate the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike.
(Photo by Brittany Murray, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Parker died at the scene, while Knudsen died later in a Long Beach hospital. Parker’s funeral procession ended at Barton Hill Elementary School in San Pedro, his alma mater. He and Knudsen, according to the records, were the first casualties of the labor dispute, which continued to intensify as it culminated in early July in San Francisco.
“First, we showed the world that when working people stick together, there’s little they can’t do,” Gary Herrera, president of ILWU Local 13, said in a statement. “Second, it was also about supporting democracy. Finally, we forced the employers to treat us as equals about the work we do, how we do it and what we get paid for it. The principles for which we fought in 1934 are still true today.”
July 5 — 90 years ago — became known as “Bloody Thursday” with two more union members losing their lives.
The day is recognized as a day off and port operations are largely shut down in recognition of the struggle it took to form the ILWU.
After the cemetery visit, union members headed to 22nd Street Park in San Pedro for picnics, music and speeches.
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