Anti-war protesters picketing at Port of Oakland

San Francisco Chronicle ^

[ATCNavyRetiree]

Oakland -- At the Port of Oakland, some 300 to 400 protesters are picketing in front of two shipping companies that they say are linked to the war on Iraq and are blocking five company entrances.

So far, there has been no confrontation between Oakland police and the demonstrators, in contrast to a April 7 rally that turned violent.

[ATCNavyRetiree]

"At the areas where protesters are gathered, police tactical officers and negotiators are grouped with liasons from the anti-war rally. The negotiators are on hand to make sure that the needs of the police and the demonstrators are both met, according to Lt. Paul Figueroa."

Am I missing something here?? Have the Oakland Police gone soft? WHY are they "negotiating" with these criminals who are BLOCKING six entrances?? The NEEDS of the police are that these creeps GET OUT OF THE WAY!! The workers have not been "called in?" WTFO?? WHY are they giving in to these traitors?? Any ideas?

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

I'll put $50 on the cops this time around.

[risk]

Am I missing something here?

The City Council is probably under the impression that their reelection depends on not offending the at least partially imported protest crowd and sympathizers in their electorate.

For shame. If I were a councilman, I'd rather be voted out of office than go on record criticizing my police for defending the free flow of war materiel when the nation is at war. I thought the Oakland police were professional and restrained. They need our support now as much as ever.

[NormsRevenge]

Sasha Wright of Direct Action to Stop the War, one of the groups that organized the protest, said there is no shipping activity this evening because officials from the two targeted companies decided not to call workers for the night shift.

Officials from the two shipping companies were unavailable for comment this evening.

"We see this as a victory," said Wright, who said her father and brother are longshoremen who work at the Port.

It's almost like extorting a business into not doing business. Weird !! And it's legal!

[Jay D. Dyson]

Am I missing something here??

Only that it's Northern California and in close proximity to Berzerkeley. It's from all the dope-smoking and Raiders-cheering. It's damaged everyone's brain up there.

Sounds funny, but it's not.

-Jay

[thegreatbeast]

No one wanted a repeat of the earlier protests. The cops had been endangered by these commies throwing bolts and other things at them and the protestors took some shots that were well publicized within hours of the protest. It was Providence that noone was grievously and permanently injured.
You pick your fights. Give the protestors some face, I guess. Maintain your presence but why get exercised over something that doesn't matter? Large force military action is over in Iraq. Supplying our needs there is now a process that won't be adversely effected by patronizing the "peaceniks" for a few hours.
And the OPD might be wary of an investigation that was called after the last protest. Reasonable people recognize that the police acted properly but this is California after all.

[concerned about politics]

At the Port of Oakland, some 300 to 400 protesters are picketing

Sheesh! The idiots still haven't gotten a job yet? Sheesh! They must be a real bunch of losers.

[concerned about politics]

there is no shipping activity this evening because officials from the two targeted companies decided not to call workers for the night shift.

And yet these same people bitch about Bush because "people are poor and without work"?

[Libertina]

Am I missing something? Haven't we already been here, done this? And isn't the war in Iraq already over?

[Cultural Jihad]

At ease. People, even losertarian Democrats, have a right to peacefully assemble. If and when they break the laws, the police will intervene. The government is the greatest protector of rights, after all.

[Poohbah]

They are blocking the entrances to the docks. The company was forced to cancel night shift.

Personally, if I were the shop steward, I'd zealously protect the interests of my fellow union members (who do not get paid if they don't work), and I'd make it clear to these punks that you don't f*** with the union.

My preferred method would be to (a) call the FOP rep and tell him that his people are out of line, protecting these punks, and (b) muster all members of the local with baseball bats outside the docks, and tell the protestors to either leave under their own power, or get used to the idea of having two broken knees apiece.