More action at the port today

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More action at the port today

Submitted by Rick on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 7:08pm.

There were more fun and games down at the Port of Olympia today. Many arrests and a few pepper-spray-induced tears. I'll have some video up as soon as I edit it down (and get something to eat). I have to say, though, right from the top, that Port Security leaves a lot to be desired. As you'll see, the protestors were able to take the gate literally apart. Where's all that Homeland Secruity money going, I wonder?

If anyone else has video, post it on YouTube, and send me a link. I'll embed it on the blog for all to see.

Chew on this until I get the video posted.

OLYMPIA -- Twenty-two people were arrested today 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 Thurston County Sheriff's Office reported.

It marked the most people arrested in one day since the demonstrations began a week ago against the military shipments leaving from the Port of Olympia's docks for Iraq. 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.

Even Olympia City Councilman TJ Johnson was 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 bombs.

Rick's blog
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Me too

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 7:30pm.

I put in about four hours today of port time, wasn't pepper sprayed but did see it happen. I also know of one young man who probably has a cracked rib, definitely has some bruises and pain, he was jabbed with a baton and shocked (what are those things called?).

After awhile I just kept suggesting to people that they check Oly Blog and consider posting their photos and experiences.

Protesters included a wide array of ages, apparel, life history, job classifications.....you name it, this was a diverse group. Not at all like how protesters in Oly are usually stereotyped.

Thank you to everyone who thanked us, thank you to everyone who was concerned about the safety of children. Thank you Janet for hanging out with me and the ride home.

Where were the medics?

Submitted by rainy gray on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 8:21pm.

How come no one showed up today to treat the people who got gassed? I called 911, the dispatcher really jerked me around, she said she'd send someone, and no one showed up. There were two people on the ground who had been gassed when I made this call, whom I could see, and I heard that a woman who was arrested had been hit by a cop and was bleeding. Maybe this is typical, but I heard that last night the OFD was very helpful.

No clue

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 8:55pm.

I have no clue why the medics weren't available and visible.

I was told eventually that there were medics set up way over in a Farmer's Market parking lot, I walked a young man who was injured on over, he was in a lot of pain, and that was quite the distance to have to walk while in pain.

I almost think it was a fear

Submitted by Norm on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 8:44pm.

I almost think it was a fear thing, I think law enforcement may have told the fire department to hang back so they wouldn't get caught in it. One of the fire commanders drove by and said that there were a few units back towards the dock area. I only caught it in passing though. "shocked" You must mean taser?

Normally OFD is very helpful that I've ever noticed. I actually enjoyed my experience tonight. It was a good crowd.

Don't know

Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 9:02pm.

The man who was injured said it was like a baton with a metal ball at the end, direct contact thrust at his ribs hard.

Electroshock gun I found this Wikipedia article on the subject, I think what was used on him was a stun baton.

weird...almost sounds like a

Submitted by Norm on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 10:57pm.

weird...almost sounds like a cattle prod.

There's some video....

Submitted by rainy gray on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 9:40pm.

and a story about the protest on the K5 news website. Sorry, but I can't figure out how to insert a link.

Medics were there...

Submitted by DrewHendricks on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 11:47pm.

Medics were there, but not Oly Fire Dept... that I saw. People were directly organizing to divide tasks between confrontation and risk, and caretaking and documenting. We were there. We carry white fluid in bottles - calcium carbonate in water, for neutralizing the tear gas / pepper spray. Also saline solution can be a good flush to clear the blurriness the former liquid will cause.

Supporters Urge Activists to Join them Outside Jail

Submitted by Ron Fakroon on Tue, 05/30/2006 - 11:51pm.

I just got off the phone with 2 of the 6 or so supporters waiting outside the Thurston County Jail (courthouse hill above Deschutes parkway). They're waiting for the release of the 22 activists who were arrested tonight at about 7PM at the public port. Hopefully then, we can provide them with some food and a ride home. Spirits are high, and they'd love to have more folks come down there to wait in vigil. Thanks to everyone who has exercised their citizens' rights and participated in this resistance to the use of our locally owned public resources for this war activity. Support the soldiers- bring them home...

Arrested Activists Starting to be Released

Submitted by Ron Fakroon on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 12:17am.

Activists waiting outside Thurston County jail report that 4 arrestees have been released. The four released were all charged with trespassing and the understanding is that a few others have more serious charges. There are 18 more to be released. Folks on the scene are requesting help with rides and food.

This is the AP story:

22 arrested at protest over Iraq shipments

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

OLYMPIA -- Twenty-two people were arrested and police pepper-sprayed some protesters among several hundred anti-war activists demonstrating Tuesday against Iraq-bound military shipments from the Port of Olympia docks.

Officers are guarding a military cargo ship docked at the port, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office said.

No one was seriously injured, county sheriff's Capt. Brad Watkins said. Two people were arrested for failure to disperse, the rest for criminal trespass after protesters tore off a gate at the port entrance, came in and lay down, he said.

The arrests were the most in one day since regular protests began a week ago.

Authorities used pepper spray several times, including once when bottles and rocks were thrown, Watkins said.

Olympia City Councilman TJ Johnson was shoved by state troopers trying to clear the area. In response, he stood face to face with the officers until they fired pepper spray, The Olympian reported.

Bottles and Rocks?

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 10:07am.

I was there all evening and was near the gate a lot of the time, and I didn't see that happen at all. Not saying it didn't, just that it's not likely. Oh, and the only bottles I saw were plastic water bottles which were being used to treat those who were pepper-sprayed. I remember first hearing this from one of the port officials who was sent out to talk with TJ. As soon as TJ said anything to the crowd about throwing of things a big laugh came from them, everyone knew it hadn't happened. I didn't see it happen and niether did anyone I talked to.

It did happen, I'm not sure

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 10:51am.

It did happen, I'm not sure what all of these people that you talked to were paying attention to but my girlfriend and I both saw it. It's the exact reason why we backed up because we didn't want to be in the little mob that threw them. I'm not sure what everyone was laughing at, but obviously the police officers did not find it humorous, neither did I.

I'm confused about you, Norm

Submitted by rainy gray on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 11:08am.

You were there? Why?

Intrigue?

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 12:54pm.

Had you asked me a month ago if I would be down at the port observing a protest I would have called you crazy. Now that I have read through some of your ( people on this site ) thoughts, ideas, hopes, I find myself sympathetic. I'm not saying I'm going to jump in anywhere with a sign and start kicking down a fence, but 4 days over the past week I have gone down to the port in the evenings to try and see for myself just what it is everyone is all about....police forces included. Although I can't agree with the actions of SOME of the protesters, I can say that I've learned a great deal of respect for most. I can also say there are some down at the port who aren't very friendly, but judging by the people on this site I'm hoping I am just unluckily running into the few and not the many. Yesterday I even brought my girlfriend down with me, we both found it very energizing. I've spent the last few days doing laundry every night because I manage to be in just the right wind direction to catch a nice dose of pepper spray. What does it mean? Where do I go from here? I have no clue, but I do know that I feel a lot less anxiety when I drive by people protesting on a street corner. I don't feel the need to claim that ALL of the people who protest in Oly are from Evergreen. I question how well some of our local police commanders respond to things. I question the motives of some people who claim to be peaceful protesters, but seem to just be looking for a fight. I guess that I'm really just looking to learn everyone's point of view.

Rainy

Submitted by Norm on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 8:24am.

I'm hoping that answered your question.

Like I said

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 12:19pm.

I'm not sure whether it happened or not. I talked to a handful of people that I knew who were down there, and they didn't see that going on, I wouldn't expect them to be involved in that either, so perhaps they were not up at the fence when it happened. I noticed that the group that stayed up at the fence were there to provoke something, as if getting pepper-sprayed was some sort of badge. They were all mostly very young looking, so maybe they feel they have to prove themselves in some way. I don't know. I think our next conversation, in a new thread perhaps, should be about a.) why people choose to protest in the way that they do (violence, disobedience) b.) what people hope to accomplish with their tactics c.) does the rest of the world write off the anti-war movement because of these actions? d.) do protesters who are violent and disobedient scare off people who are anti-war and might come to a demo, but don't want to be associated with the violence and disobedience?

I personally, do not agree with the use of violence. I'm not a pacifist, but I won't instigate any violence and don't condone it. I've heard people talking about the difference between violence against people and violence against property. The fence in particular. Obviously, a fence is an inanimate object that doesn't feel pain and isn't effected by the violence (the fence was not broken and is still in use), but there were police officers on the other side of the fence who watched the fence being shaken, saw the protesters with much anger in their eyes and voices hurling threats and disses. When the police opened the gates, and came out, they were already expecting resistance. They were already in a violent place, both in their heads and in their physical surroundings. Before, they were behind the fence, now they were out in it. They had just been screamed at and called names for hours, people shaking the fence as if trying to tear it down to get at the them.

I want to make it clear: I am not taking sides. Some of things I saw the cops do after they came out from behind the fence were inexcusable. Including pepper-spraying indiscriminantly, in close proximity to children even. Using excessive force, such as the four cops that jumped on one scrawny guy with knees and elbows flying and of course using the classic handful of hair takedown, and this AFTER they gassed him.

I see a direct correlation between what happened before the gate opened and what happened after the gate opened. Would the cops have used pepper-spray without provocation, probably not. Would they have been as angry, angry enough to violently push around Gene Otto and TJ Johnson? I guess I can't say for sure, but I feel like the answer is no.

Growing Crowd Cheers for Freed Arrested Activists

Submitted by Ron Fakroon on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 2:35am.

In another phone report, activists at the Thurston County jail report that the 6 arrested women have now been released leaving 11 men still inside. The enthusiastic gathering now numbering more than a dozen, cheered for and welcomed those emerging from custody to an ad hoc picnic replete with blankets and food. One activist holding vigil offered, "How you're treated when you get out makes a difference about how you feel about your civil disobedience."

Thanks

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 4:17am.

Thanks for helping keep us updated, appreciated.

I disagree

Submitted by Jade on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 7:03pm.

"Would the cops have used pepper-spray without provocation, probably not." These are the words of someone with limited activism experience. I have seen the police use violence unprovoked numerous times on crowds. I have even seen them deliberately corrale people so they could not escape, and then move in with tear gas and batons. They are trained to break up protests when that is what their higher-ups desire, and they will do that if you have enough of an effect. Even if every single member is completely angelic and passive. Sometimes breaking up a protest requires scaring people, or making them suffer. Whatever it takes to make people stay home.

You may be right,

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 8:51pm.

I may be crazy.

I may have a limited amount of activism experience, Jade, but I have a vast amount of human experience. I know what I saw the other night, and what I saw was a group of demonstrators provoking and acting out violently toward the police on hand, and it was inappropriate. And the police, in turn, responded to them inappropriately. All I'm trying to say is that things may have been a lot different than they were, had certain things not happened.

I realize you are a more seasoned activist than I am, but that doesn't mean I'm blind. Maybe as I become more seasoned I'll become more cynical as well. I hope not.

Cynical?

Submitted by Crenshaw Sepulveda on Wed, 05/31/2006 - 9:49pm.

I am a follower of the ancient philospher, Diogenes. When I was a child I collected baseball card like cards of all the greek philosophers. Diogenes was my favorite. You have to love a guy that lived in a bath tub and gave away his only possession, a bowl, when he saw a boy drink with his hands, try that at the Olympia well. He started a school of philosophy known the Cynics. Cynic in Greek means dog like. Check out Diogenes of Siniope on Wikipedia, an interesting write up. Cynic has gotten a bad rap over the ages. I prefer the ancient definition. My definition of a cynic today would be one that expects ruthless honesty of himself, and nearly the same of others.

"I would make it impossible for the covetous and avaricious to utterly impoverish the poor. The rich can take care of themselves."

Am I a cynic?

Submitted by Jade on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 9:20am.

I just think its naive to say that the police would never use pepper spray without being provoked. Maybe you don't need to be a cynic, but consider that the fear/aversion around police that is so prevalant among activists may have some basis in their actual experience. If you thought that, or if you asked people why they feel that way, and believed them, maybe you wouldn't be so confident that it doesn't happen. Or maybe we're all just paranoid wing-nuts... I guess I became cynical the time I saw four police grab a man in broad daylight who had broken off of a crowd, and kick the shit out of him in the middle of the street. Is walking out of the line of sight of other protestors "provocation"? Funny, people call me a cynic when we talk about the state of things, and a naive idealist when it comes to solutions.

I guess there are worse things to be called

Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 9:54am.

Really, I'm only talking about what I saw the other night. I have no doubt that cops have been violent for no reason in other places, but what I saw was provoked, and the kids were warned before they were sprayed, and they caused a hundred or more people to have to breathe in pepper spray, including kids, because of their behavior.

P.S. I distinctly remember an incident in which I was talking about solutions and you called me a naive idealist. I'm not bitter though.

That was in reference to

Submitted by Jade on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 10:02am.

That was in reference to your "our next president is gonna be the one" thing. Rob, this is getting embarrassingly personal. Can we save this conversation for real life? Christ...

Do I know You?

Submitted by Rob Richards on Thu, 06/01/2006 - 12:45pm.

You must have me confused with someone else.

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