by 
By Mark A Leon
The 25th anniversary of the Charleston Five strike marks a momentous chapter in the history of labor and civil rights in the United States, particularly in Charleston, South Carolina.
In January 2000, five International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) members—Jason Edgerton, Elijah Ford Jr., Kenneth Jefferson, Ricky Simmons, and Peter Washington Jr.—were arrested following a protest at the Port of Charleston, where union workers stood against the use of non-union labor by a Danish shipping company.
Over 600 law enforcement officers confronted about 150 peaceful picketers, sparking a violent clash and leading to the arrest of the Charleston Five on serious felony charges.
The arrests and subsequent prosecution by South Carolina’s Attorney General, Charlie Condon, drew widespread condemnation. Many viewed the charges as politically motivated, aimed at breaking union solidarity and furthering Condon’s own political ambitions, rather than upholding justice. The five men faced the threat of lengthy prison terms and endured nearly two years under house arrest while their case became a rallying point for labor and civil rights activists across the nation and around the world.
The Charleston Five case highlighted the persistent challenges faced by organized labor, especially in the South, where anti-union sentiment has historically run strong. The international labor community, led by the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), mobilized in support of the Charleston Five, organizing protests, fundraising, and raising public awareness about the injustices they faced. In November 2001, after significant pressure from labor and civil rights groups, all charges against the Charleston Five were dropped, marking a major victory for worker solidarity.
Today, as the 25th anniversary is commemorated from June 23–27, 2025, the legacy of the Charleston Five lives on as a symbol of resilience, unity, and the ongoing struggle for justice and fair treatment in the workplace. The anniversary is being marked by gatherings and events in Charleston, honoring the courage of those who stood up for labor rights and reminding us that the fight for justice is never truly over.
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I was a student at the College when this happened, and it was my first experience of activism. We partnered with the union to spread awareness. South Carolina is very anti-union and anti-labor; it is a right- to -work state. But let’s be real, our state is a right -to -work- for- less state- a phrase I learned from one of my history professors. I have been teaching history and social studies for over 15 years in Charleston and share my account of living history when discussing the Charleston 5.
Some links of videos on this struggle
On The 25th Anniversary Of The Charleston 5 Struggle “Free The Charleston 5” – The Struggle Of The ILA 1422 Longshore Workers
https://youtu.be/98_aMsQxtvI
“Free The Charleston 5”, the video takes us to the battle on the Charleston docks in January 2000 when the South Carolina state police under rightwing state Attorney General Charlie Condon organized a police military type attack on members of ILA 1422 who were picketing a non-union shipping company Nordana. This video also interviews Peter Washington, one of the defendants. Also included are segments from the mass labor community support rally in South Carolina’s capital Columbia on June 9, 2001. The Charleston Five struggle was successful
Also see the book
On the Global Waterfront:The Fight to Free the Charleston 5.
http://www.ontheglobalwaterfront.org
by Suzan Erem and E. Paul Durrenberger
Labor Video Project
http://www.labormedia.net
Union Busting 2000 Attack On Charleston, S. Carolina ILA 1422 Longshore Workers
https://youtu.be/QYbZuEd9hoU
This is footage of the attack on the Charleston, South Carolina ILA 1422 dock workers in January 2000. A new book “On the Global Waterfront, The Fight To Free The Charleston Five” is now available.
http://www.ontheglobalwaterfront.org
“Free The Charleston 5”, the video takes us to the battle on the Charleston docks in January 2000 when the South Carolina state police under racist Republican state Attorney General Charlie Condon organized a police military type attack on members of ILA 1422 who were picketing a non-union shipping company Nordana. This video also interviews Peter Washington, one of the defendants. This local is the most important and powerful Black led local in South Carolina. Also included are segments from the mass labor community support rally in South Carolina’s capital Columbia on June 9, 2001. The Charleston Five struggle was successful
On the Global Waterfront:The Fight to Free the Charleston 5.
http://www.ontheglobalwaterfront.org
by Suzan Erem and E. Paul Durrenberger
Labor Video Project
http://www.labormedia.net
ILA 1422 Pres Ken Riley Report To SF Labor Council on Charleston 5
https://youtu.be/2DR9KzfhoRM
The international campaign to defend the ILA 1422 Charleston Five was carried to San Francisco when ILA President Ken Riley came to the city in February 2001 to publicize their case
to the San Francisco Labor Council.
The Charleston Five struggle was successful with the support and action of many transportation unions around the world including the Spanish dockworkers union and the ILWU on the west coast.
On the Global Waterfront:The Fight to Free the Charleston 5.
http://www.ontheglobalwaterfront.org
Labor Video Project
http://www.labormedia.net