Group stops trucks at Oakland port during shutdown

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 12 December 2011 | Vivian Ho

[Vigilanteman]

(12-12) 07:27 PST OAKLAND -- A group of protesters have succeeded in stopping a line of big-rigs from entering the Port of Oakland this morning during their march to shutdown the busy cargo terminal.

Organizers have pledged to march to the port and shutdown the terminal, one of the busiest on the West Coast. Some unions, including the one representing Oakland teachers, are supporting the day-long strike while others, like the longshoremen's union, say shutting down the port will harm hard-working stevedores and truck drivers.

Carrying signs saying "Shutdown Wall St. on the Waterfront" about 200 protesters marched the three blocks from the West Oakland BART Station to the port entrances before sunrise today.

A group of roughly 100 marchers were met by a line of police in riot gear near the intersection of Seventh Street and Middle HarborRoad. Protesters began marching in a circle, preventing trucks from getting through. At least one demonstrator had set up a tent in the intersection.

One trucker, clearly frustrated, blew his air horn and tried to drive through the crowd.

[Vigilanteman]

Longshoremen driving heavy machinery versus hippies claiming to be teachers waving protest signs . . . which team should I bet on?

[SumProVita]

Enforce the LAW and jail the agitators.

[SECURE AMERICA]

One trucker, clearly frustrated, blew his air horn and tried to drive through the crowd.

TRIED? I can assure you that I would have gotten through...

[Proud2BeRight]

How will the Birkenstocks, Prius, curley bulbs, and solar panels get here?

[Rennes Templar]

Interesting the MSM coverage of OWS is way down...protecting Obama?

[Lazamataz]

"It's necessary. It is a way to strike back, to show our numbers and show what the people can do," said William Lovell, 44, with the Occupy SF camp. "We are politely breaking the rules as gently as we can."

I'm all for politely breaking his skull as gently as we can.

[jhroberts]

I would have no hesitation of running them over after a warning to get out of the way. A few dead hippies — problem solved. They won’t be standing in the way anymore. Unfortunately, we have become a nation of eunuchs and this won’t happen.

[SumProVita]

Like the DNC, they are having *strategy* struggles at present.

;-)

[Jack Hydrazine]

Why are the riot police there? To protect the OWS thugs from the truckers who might just run right over them?

[mk2000]

Let us get one thing straight here when they say hard working Longshoreman and Truck drivers there’s something really really odd in that statement. Speaking from experience as a 16 year Truck driver going into and out of ports on the east coast, there is nothing and I mean Nothing called a hard working Longshoreman. Period! This subject has now been discussed and checkmated!

[Gene Eric]

Fire their parents.

[San Jacinto]

I am trying to follow the logic here.

Some people on Wall Street make butt loads of money, but a teacher in CA can only make $80 grand a year and retire on $60 grand a year at age 55. Tough life. So ..... taxpayers need to pay more in taxes to help the poor public sector employees in CA. So ... the Wall Street guys must pay a lot more to give more to public employees and support their pensions.

So....the thing to do is shut down the ports on the West Coast, and now the SEIU and NEA cans say “You damn well WILL do just as we say! NOW HAND OVER THAT F%*&#@G MONEY!”

OK, I think I’ve got the idea.

[Nifster]

The yahoos with signage were bussed in on really nice buses...bet the drivers do not belong to a union

[ConservativeInPA]

If this occupy crap continues/expands next summer as I expect it will, then I certainly hope the GOP ramps up the law and order rhetoric. Let the left coast RAT mayors and governors show how their approach doesn't work. Come election time the parade of “99%” can be on full display. That parade consists of the most extreme RATs: Queers, Bisexuals, Transgenders, Lesbians, Eco-wackos, anarchists, socialists, communists, university professors, union thugs, La Razaians, and of course a good number of Obama’s people looking for some Obama stash.

[CIB-173RDABN]

These “protest” will go on as long as those that are entrusted in enforcing laws believe that they are helping their side (the Democrats). Keep in mind that labor unions support this administration so they will allow the “protestors” to slow the work.

Once it is decided they are no longer of value, the laws will be enforced.

[SusaninOhio]

This is what I know about unions and truckers: When the General Motors division I worked for was threatened by a strike by the UAW, we were told that if any truckers or other Teamster union members were blocking our path into the building, to turn around and go home because people often become dangerously violent.

We believed them. I wouldn’t mess around with an irate Teamster member, which I imagine a lot of the truckers are. I only wish they would spank the OWS idiots soundly and send them home.

[Vigilanteman]

. . . there is nothing and I mean Nothing called a hard working Longshoreman. Period!

As a supply chain manager who deals with these a**holes on a regular basis, I second the motion.

[ScottinVA]

Interesting the MSM coverage of OWS is way down...protecting Obama?

I'm convinced the propaganda conglomerate's sole purpose.. and the basis of EVERYTHING it does.. every boardroom decision made.. is centered on protecting Obama.

[Political Junkie Too]

I heard on the radio this morning on KSFO that the protesters were bused in on six buses. How does a grass roots spontaneous occupy protest arrange for buses?

-PJ

[griswold3]

LOL