NORTH BERGEN, NJ (June 20, 2025) Two monumental events that occurred a quarter of a century ago that world shape the course of International Dockworker solidarity and ignited the power of dockworkers joining together to fight for workers’ rights, equality, and respect from employers, will be celebrated over five days in Charleston, South Carolina from June 23 -27, 2025. The ILA’s “Charleston Five Campaign” and the formation of the International Dockworkers’ Council (IDC) will be remembered at a conference at the Charleston Place Hotel in Charleston South Carolina.
The Charleston Five got its name from the five ILA Charleston ILA members – Jason Edgerton, Elijah Ford Jr., Kenneth Jefferson, Ricky Simmons and Peter Washington Jr. – who were arrested following a brutal confrontation with over 600 Charleston law enforcement authorities who attacked 150 peaceful ILA protesters. In the aftermath of the protest and charges dropped against nine ILA members for lack of evidence, the State’s Attorney General at the time, Charlie Condon, sought to exploit the incident for personal political gains, and brought felony rioting, conspiracy to riot, two assault cases and resisting arrest against the “Charleston Five.”
Kenneth Riley, the ILA’s International Vice President from the Port of Charleston, who was on the picket line that night on January 20th, became the spokesman and champion for the “Charleston Five.” He knew as a lifelong resident of Charleston, that the Attorney General’s pursuit of five ILA members was not in the name of justice, but an attempt to protect the “Old Boy’s Network” and to further suppress the rights of organized labor in a notorious anti-union State. Plus, Charlie Condon had his eyes on the Governor’s Mansion in Columbia and saw this aggressive attack against unionized workers and minorities as his ticket to victory.
Dockworkers across America and around the globe soon joined the fight to defend the Charlston Five. Key to the mounting worldwide protest and international solidarity for the Charleston Five was the support Kenny Riley secured from the newly formed International Dockworkers’ Council. Both the Charleston Five and the IDC will celebrate their Silver Anniversaries at this conference next week.
ILA Executive President Dennis A. Daggett will deliver remarks at the opening session of the Charleston Five remembrance on Tuesday, June 24. That session begins at 9 am and will feature many world-wide labor leaders who will reflect on the significance the Charleston Five campaign ignited a world-wide labor response whose effects are felt to this day.
With this conference held in the very city where the Charleston Five conflict was born, attendees next week will tour Charleston’s African-American Museum on Wednesday, June 25th. There, they will learn of Charleston’s infamous role as the epicenter of America’s Slave industry where the first slaves arrived in Charleston in 1526.
On Thursday, June 26th, the session will be devoted to celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the International Dockworkers’ Council. The IDC’s 25th Anniversary will be presented during this session. The ILA’s Dennis Daggett, in his dual role as IDC General Coordinator, will offer the closing speech at the conference.
