Olympia WA: 22 arrests in protest of military cargo ship (pics)

[Generic Other]

Port protests escalate
22 arrests made in demonstrations against military cargo ship
BY SCOTT GUTIERREZ

OLYMPIA - Twenty-two people were arrested Tuesday in one of the most volatile confrontations yet between anti-war activists and police officers guarding a military cargo ship docked at the Port of Olympia.

The confrontations resulted in the most arrests in a single day since the demonstrations began a week ago against the Iraq-bound military shipments leaving from the port. Police used pepper spray several times on the 100 or so activists and advanced into the crowd later in the evening, trying to disperse it.

Olympia City Councilman TJ Johnson was among those shoved by state troopers trying to clear the area. In response, he stood face-to-face in front of the advancing officers until they fired several pepper-spray pellets to clear the area.
http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060531/NEWS/60531002

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http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

[dave502d]

1. Nice post Generic Other. n/t

[Generic Other]

2. “Out of Olympia, Out of Iraq”

Protesters chanted “Out of Olympia, Out of Iraq” as they rocked the chain-link gate so hard that it looked like it might give way. At least three people tried to use wooden boards to pry the gate open.

Thurston County Sheriff’s deputies used a loudspeaker to warn the group to back off repeatedly before they deployed pepper spray at least four times in a one-hour period around 9:30 p.m. Dozens of people at the port plaza crouched over, dousing each other’s eyes with bottles of water and offering slices of onion to ease burning in the throat.

http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060530/NEWS/60530002

[Generic Other]

3. From Truthout

Wednesday 31 May 2006
Olympia - Anti-war protesters gathered Wednesday at the Port of Olympia to demonstrate against a 950-foot military cargo ship bound for Iraq.

Crowds were small early in the day, but were expected to grow amid rumors that the ship was leaving Wednesday evening. Twenty-two people were arrested Tuesday and police pepper-sprayed a handful of protesters who pulled down a port fence.

Activists began protesting at the port more than a week ago after learning that Stryker vehicles and other Army gear from the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, a 4,000-soldier unit stationed at Fort Lewis, were being shipped to Iraq.

<snip>

Authorities used pepper spray several times, including once when some in the crowd started hurling bottles and rocks at the approximately 70 law enforcement officers on scene, Kimball said.

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/053106Y.shtml

[High Plains]

4. This needs to be kicked. Concrete action to disrupt the machine.

I've been thinking for awhile that it's time to move past chanting and waving signs in marches and get on with the business of shutting down this war. Congress sure hasn't shown any inclination to do it. Of course such action are civil disobedience, and that has possible legal consequences. But it looks like some folks in Olympia are willing to put their bodies on the line. Good on 'em!

And as an added bonus, an add for the Canadian Young Communist League popped up when I read this thread! Ha ha.

[Generic Other]

5. They protested for 5 days before the Seattle TV stations even covered it

Most in Washington may not have even been aware it was happening.

Love the fact that Canadian Commies want to advertise on this thread. Much better than some of the so-called targetted ads I have been seeing around here. :rofl:

[Generic Other]

6. An update from Olympia SDS (yes, that's Students for a Democratic Society)

For the past week, the Stryker Brigade from Fort
Lewis, WA has been sending convoys of Stryker vehicles
to the Port of Olympia (Olympia, WA) en route to Iraq
along with truckloads of military supplies,
ammunition, etc. All of the materials are being held
in the Port before a ship picks it all up to bring to
Iraq where the Stryker Brigade will be redeployed.

Members from Tacoma SDS and the newly formed Olympia
SDS in solidarity with many community groups have
taken direct action to stop the shipment of Stryker
vehicles.

Four Tacoma SDSers and over 30 Olympia SDSers have
taken part in the actions throughout the week. Several
have dropped out of school momentarily to monitor the
port, partake in meetings, plan civil disobedience and
direct action, educate the community and revitalize
the local anti-imperialist movement to confront the
military.

Four Olymia SDSers have been arrested for blockading
the convoys as they rolled through the City of
Olympia. A total of 16 people have been arrested so
far. Others have found themselves at the receiving end
of police repression. The city has been anticipating
the arrival of the ship that will pick up the Stryker
vehicles and supplies which will most likely be in the
coming week.

The last large community confrontation to port
militarization caused the ship to leave before it
loaded all of its supplies because of a "breach in
security" when people broke through the Port's gates.

Olympia SDSers are continuing in their fight against
imperialism in Olympia. After all, it's not about
protesting war and imperialism but stopping it.
Olympia SDS has thrown a wrench in the war machine and
intends to throw in many more.

For more information and updates, visit:

www.olyimc.infotage.net
www. olyblog.net
www.omjp.org
www.frolympia.org

and some corporate coverage:

www.theolympian.com

and pics of SDSers:

http://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album430&id=01kneeling_cop

http://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album430&id=05angry_man_vert

http://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album430&id=protest03

and some more general pics:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/94127337@N00/sets/72157594144335213/show/