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1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike, As A Monument, Dedicated To Events Or People, As An Exhibit of Art

Bloody Thursday
(1 of 13) (10510 views)

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A plaque described the reason for this monument to the 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike. It read:

In memory of Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise, who gave their lives on Bloody Thursday, July 5, 1934, so that all working people might enjoy a greater measure of dignity and security.

Sperry and Bordoise were fatally shot by San Francisco police at the intersection of Mission and Steuart Streets, when longshoremen and seamen attempted to stop maritime employers from breaking their joint strike. Community outrage at these killings sparked a general strike by all San Francisco unions.

The maritime strike continued through the middle of summer concluding with a union victory which brought decent conditions to the shipping industry and set the stage for the rebirth of a strong and democratic labor movement on the West coast.

"An Injury To One is An Injury To All"


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:06:20 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1770
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In An Alcove
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The monument stood in an alcove at the corner. Although it appears to be a one-sided mural, it actually has art on both sides, half the art facing the street, and half the art facing the building.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:07:58 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1772
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Scaffolding And Clocks
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One face of the monument exhibited a scaffolding with clocks, steel bar, and sacks of coffee. Below, a large and strong longshoremen's arm handles rope, while the owner reads his book of profits.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:08:15 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1774
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Weathered Panel
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The lower, central panel showed longshoremen, seamen, and others facing the rabble of scabs, and the guns of police in opposition.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:08:16 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1775
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Contract
(5 of 13) (7011 views)

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One of the back panels showed a scene of a union contract being negotiated.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:08:47 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1776
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Old Retired
(6 of 13) (7115 views)

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An old and retired union worker holds a copy of his negotiated pension in his hands.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:00 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1778
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Union Kitchen
(7 of 13) (7095 views)

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A union kitchen was set up to provide meals for the union striking workers and their families.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:08 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1779
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San Francisco News
(8 of 13) (7055 views)

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San Francisco newspapers told the story of the strike and how the striking workers laid flowers in the street in honor of their two fallen comrades.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:13 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1780
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Boss Picked Scabs
(9 of 13) (7107 views)

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The bosses of the shipping companies picked scabs to work while the union was on strike.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:17 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1781
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Detail
(10 of 13) (7098 views)

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A closer detail shot of hands gripping papers, while tied with rope.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:20 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1782
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Act Against Injustice
(11 of 13) (7077 views)

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Art depicts two signs held by strikers. One read, "An injury to one is an injury to all." The other read, "Act against injustice."


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:28 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1783
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ILWU
(12 of 13) (7015 views)

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A boy held a bag filled with sourdough loaves of bread while wearing an ILWU (International Longshoremen Worker's Union) hat.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:30 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1784
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And Labor Council
(13 of 13) (7257 views)

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Shoulder to shoulder stood longshoremen, seamen, teamsters, and the labor council.


1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike external link   •  As A Monument external link   •  As An Exhibit of Art external link   •  Steuart and Mission Streets external link   •  San Francisco external link California external link   •  (Date Photographed: 10:09:38 Friday 23 February 2018)   •  (Date Published: Wednesday 18 April 2018)   •  © 2018 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #C18_1786
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