Newark, NJ –- July 8, 2016 — Newark city officials citing a “provocative and discriminatory” Facebook message as an example of “deeply ingrained racism’ in Port Newark and Elizabeth’s International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) locals, Mayor Ras J. Baraka announced today that he will be holding a march and rally for jobs at Port Newark & Elizabeth on Monday, July 18. Assembly for the motorcade to the rally will begin at City Hall, 920 Broad Street, Newark at 10 a.m.
The Facebook message from an alleged ILA employee was sent to a Newark City Administrative Assistant in response to her Facebook posting of a flyer inviting participation in the march.
“This Facebook message is an example of the deep seated culture of racism and discrimination in ILA Locals 1 and 1804. The New Jersey AFL-CIO should demand that the employee who sent that message be removed from his position in the union,” said Mayor Baraka.
“On May 2nd, hundreds of Newark residents marched to end hiring discrimination. We blocked trucks and shut down the Port for an hour. We will be back on July 18th and will return again and again with the message that the Port will not be able to operate as long as racial, gender and ethnic inequality in employment and discrimination against the hiring of Newark residents is allowed to continue,” he added.