Posted on 11/11/2007 12:49:07 AM PST by Stoat
OLYMPIA -- At least 12 people have been arrested today as protests of military-cargo shipments from the Port of Olympia moved to downtown and the Plum Street entrance to Interstate 5.
Protesters on foot blocked traffic at Fourth and Plum about noon by jumping in front of 18-wheelers towing cargo containers containing military equipment bound for Fort Lewis. But Olympia police in riot gear moved in quickly,
About 10 protesters partially blocked Plum Street at the entrance to Interstate 5 by linking arms through PVC pipes and sitting in the road. Police shot them with pepper spray guns and, when they didn't move, cut the PVC pipes, handcuffed them and dragged them to a police van.
Earlier in the day, Olympia police officers dressed in riot gear used pepper spray and physically removed the 20 or so Olympia Port Militarization Resistance demonstrators who were blocking the entrance to the port about 9:45 a.m.
A larger number of protesters stood by and shouted at the police, decrying what they felt were excessive tactics. A smaller group that included some of the truck drivers who were waiting to move military equipment to Fort Lewis voiced quiet support for the police actions.
By about 10:20 a.m., a large number of trucks had entered the port and about 20 officers lined the road at Franklin and Market streets, making sure the road was clear of protesters.
About 10:30 a.m., several protesters -- including one young woman screaming in pain -- were being treated by paramedics after being pepper-sprayed by police. The line of protesters at the ports gates, some of whom wore goggles and other protective gear, withstood several sprays and were physically removed by officers who picked them up and threw them away from the road they had blocked.
All week, OlyPMR has been protesting the use of the port by the USNS Brittin, which landed at the port Monday to unload equipment that was used in Iraq by the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division (Stryker Brigade Combat Team).
On Friday, protesters, including several small children, were able to keep two trucks, including one towing a Stryker vehicle, from leaving the port. Olympia police said the department did not have enough officers available to remove the protesters Friday, and that they were not prepared to physically remove children.
Olympia Port Commission President Paul Telford said Friday night that he understood police did not have the resources to remove the protesters that day but added he was a little disappointed that we didnt get some police support.
Early this morning, protesters were blocking the main entrance to the port, and overnight a barricade had been built at another road providing access to the port on Market and Marine Drive. Protesters said they were there all night.
The barricade, which included the axle of a truck with four wheels attached and plastic garbage cans, was cleared by what appeared to be port workers using a bulldozer about 8:15 a.m. today. Police also cleared protesters from the barricade using pepper spray.
Before today's action by police, truck drivers who were waiting to do their jobs said they didnt feel police were doing theirs. Overnight, truck driver Mike Cutberth said protesters stole equipment from his truck that he had used to secure cargo containers.
The police response (stinks), Cutberth said of Saturdays incation by police.
Were a tax-producing business, said truck driver Tory Liljeblad. Why dont we get protection?
Nathan Forrest added that I cant make a living with the protesters blocking port access.
Were truck drivers; we cant get in and work, Mike Smith said.
After the trucks rolled into the port this morning, it appeared that OlyPMRs resistance would continue; police scanners were reporting various actions in the area of the port and on Fourth Avenue after 11 a.m.
For more information, check back at this site and see Page A1 in Sunday's Olympian.
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The original story (similar text, different photos) is posted in The Olympian, which is blocked by FR due to a copyright complaint.
From the Tribune article:
On Friday, protesters, including several small children, were able to keep two trucks, including one towing a Stryker vehicle, from leaving the port. Olympia police said the department did not have enough officers available to remove the protesters Friday, and that they were not prepared to physically remove children.
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Please also see this related FR thread:
Anti-war demonstrators protest military ship unloading in Olympia
Ping :-)
Joey: Oh, just the usual stuff. My mom took me and my sister down to the Port and put us in the road to block trucks, and we all screamed and yelled and threw stuff at the police. And when we wouldn't move, they pepper-sprayed us all and it made me sick for the rest of the day. They dragged my mom off to jail while she was kicking and screaming It was fun!
I don’t feel sorry in the least for the girl in pain from pepper spray or any of these protesters. I think if children were there then child services should have come in asap. If you want to protest then be ready for pepper spray & arrest. IMHO you never take a child to a protest.
I’ve taken my kids to peaceful demonstrations to support the troops, where we held signs and flags as people drove by in cars. If there was any possibility of any counter-protesters or confrontation present, that would have been irresponsible. Kids have no business in that.
You're absolutely right of course. The police were being so careful as a result of the presence of children, their perceived inaction upset some people. I couldn't be helped when protesters bring kids into a potentially hazardous situation.
Those kids should be placed in permanent foster care, IMO. That's utterly reckless for parents to take their kids into a situation like that.
Young people in Olympia are the worst kind of leftists. Evergreen College is their little leftist home
Isn’t that the one with the geoduck mascot?
Not surprised they turn out kids that are sort of out of the norm...
Oh man, I wish I could have seen this! I would have set up a lawn chair with a bowl of popcorn and some binoculars!
Traitors should be shot not maced.
Agreed, and the kids should be introduced to a new mom and dad.
Ive taken my kids to peaceful demonstrations to support the troops, where we held signs and flags as people drove by in cars. If there was any possibility of any counter-protesters or confrontation present, that would have been irresponsible. Kids have no business in that
I think that in most cases, Troop-support actions are probably among the safest places you could possibly bring your kids....and an educational one. They'll have an opportunity to meet military people and interact with them in a positive way.
And if any of the moonbats start getting out of line, you'll quickly have about fifty highly-focused pro_Troops people between them and your kids :-)
I’ve been thinking of more humane method of liberal crowd dispersal than pepper spray. For some reason, machetes come to mind.
Yes, there are swarms of them there.
Now, THAT'S entertainment! ;)
And a stylish bullhorn to applaud the officers when they spray, subdue and drag away those scruffy commies :-)
It would be like a sports event....when the police drag away a protester, a point for the home team has been scored and the crowd goes wild :-)
Now, THAT'S entertainment! ;)
I wonder if any pro-Troops people have put footage of that up on YouTube yet? It would be the sort of thing that you'd want to bookmark and watch again and again :-)
Traitors should be shot not maced.
You won't get any arguments from me :-)
Although this approach is far more lenient than what I would prefer, we've been having an interesting discussion in the FR Washington Forum on the use of water cannons on rioters.
I understand that they are quite effective, and make the rioter quite disinterested in rioting.
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They even make ones that fly!
From that site, the organizers are:
Contacts:
Andrew Yankey
Cell: 360-349-1089
Anna-Marie Murano
Cell: 360-878-1401
Phan Nguyen
360-352-4172
bookmark
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