NORTH BERGEN, NJ (October 29, 2018) – Harold J. Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association used the occasion of the ILA’s Sixth Annual Civil, Human and Women’s Rights Awards Dinner held on Saturday, October 27, 2018 in Savannah, Georgia to announce his union’s endorsement of Stacey Abrams and Andrew Gillum, both Democratic candidates for Governor in Georgia and Florida, respectfully, and urged ILA members in those two states to campaign aggressively on their behalf.
Delivering the keynote address to hundreds of ILA members and guests at the annual ILA Civil Rights Dinner, President Harold Daggett said:
“I am going to close my remarks with two important endorsements. Long before anyone really knew her, Stacey Abrams, the Democratic candidate for Georgia Governor, addressed the ILA’s Dock and Marine Council meeting. How great it will be for Georgia to elect an African-American woman as Governor.
“Willie Seymore, I understand Ms. Abrams spoke to you just last week thanking you and the ILA for being early supporters of hers.
“The ILA is proud to formally endorse Stacey Abrams for Georgia Governor and we publicly condemn her opponent Brian Kemp for his disgraceful campaign to suppress votes, especially African-American voters, here in Georgia.
“And to our South, the ILA is proud to officially endorse Andrew Gillum or Governor of Florida.
Willie, as an International Vice President from Georgia, I am directing you to fire up our ILA membership here and make sure they and their families get out and vote on November 6th. The same directive goes out to my ILA officers in Florida.”
Willie Seymore, International Vice President from the Port of Savannah and Executive Vice President for the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District, was one of four guests of honor at Saturday’s ILA Civil Rights dinner held in his hometown city.
Both Ms. Abrams from Georgia and Mr. Gullim from Florida are waging tough campaigns for Governor and it is expected to be close races in both states.
Amid cheering from hundreds of ILA members responding to President Daggett’s endorsement announcement, the ILA leader said: “What a great message for advancing Civil Rights, Human Rights and Women’s Rights if Ms. Abrams and Mr. Gillum win their respective races.”