Overview

• Hundreds rallied before dawn Friday and briefly blocked an I‑880 off‑ramp to the Port of Oakland as a small kayak flotilla entered the Inner Harbor, but port officials reported normal terminal operations and no impact to vessel traffic.
• A day earlier, demonstrators gathered at Oakland International Airport, where a spokesperson said the airport is legally required to accommodate federally authorized air cargo and noted that FedEx operates its own flight and loading areas under a long‑term lease.
• The protests follow an August report by the Palestinian Youth Movement alleging military shipments to Israel move through Oakland via FedEx, a claim that has not been independently verified in public disclosures.
• A spokesperson for Mayor Barbara Lee said the mayor asked the Port of Oakland to verify the shipment claims and report back to her office.
• An open petition urges Oakland to impose an arms embargo and expand transparency on cargo handling, with organizers citing a recent UN inquiry that accused Israel of genocide and pointing to global solidarity actions such as the Sumud flotilla.