Olympia Port Militarization Resistance – 11/15/2007

Flash Update on Fight to Shut Down War Shipments

The Olympian newspaper reported on November 14 that 50 people were arrested late November 13 as they blockaded military shipments at the Port of Olympia in Washington State. Riot equipped cops, wielding riot sticks, shooting pepper spray bullets, pepper spray, and, according to some accounts, two concussion grenades, moved to clear a road of 30 women who were courageously and peacefully sitting in the street to block the arms shipments. After attacking the women who were sitting in, the riot cops moved against the demonstration of about 200 people that was behind the women in the street. Protestors remained in the street until police had finally cleared the way for their cargos of death, at about 1 in the morning. Olympia Port Militarization Resistance (OlyPMR), which called for these actions, is calling on people to continue the protests, Saturday, November 17, at 1:00pm in Olympia, Washington. The gathering begins at Percival Landing on the corner of 4th Avenue and Water Street in Olympia and will end at the Port Plaza. Supporters can contact Your browser may not support display of this image. olypmr@riseup.net for more information.

The Olympia Port Militarization Resistance (OlyPMR)

By Cheryl Abraham, Steering Committee, Seattle Chapter WCW

Olympia Port Militarization Resistance (OlyPMR), a newly formed off-shoot of the Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace in Olympia Washington, has been the at the center of significant protests aimed at stopping the loading and unloading of military equipment at the Ports of Olympia and Tacoma. These shipments are coming in from, and are destined for, Iraq.

The stated goal of OlyPMR is to “end our community’s participation in the illegal occupation of Iraq by stopping the US military’s use of the Port of Olympia. OlyPMR works in solidarity to support similar efforts in Tacoma and elsewhere.” OlyPMR also thinks it is imperative that other cities and towns in the US resist the efforts of the military to continue to support the illegal Iraq war. (See bottom of article for how to get involved with this effort!)

Wes Hamilton, OlyPMR activist and Vietnam War Marine Combat Veteran, says “The goal of the actions is to send a message that the ports belong to the people and we don’t want our port used to sustain illegal US military operations around the world. By working to keep the military equipment recently off-loaded at the port, we are stopping the revolving-door cycle of support for the war and occupation that Olympia has become a part of. This is material returning from Iraq: we are not denying troops in harms way access to equipment or supplies. However, we are denying the Army’s effort to re-fit and repair this lethal equipment to be recycled back in to the killing theater. We are also deeply concerned about the presence of Depleted Uranium, and the possible exposure of that seriously toxic material to the soldiers, port workers, and citizens of our own community as the equipment is staged and transported along our streets.”

Hamilton went on to say, “Whether or not you agree with the tactics used by some of those involved in this action, I want to assure you it is a non-violent action. There has been absolutely no violence against the police.”

Despite the non-violent approach of the OlyPMR they have continued to be a target of police brutality. Hamilton says “I saw them, (protesters), sit down in front of a huge semi-truck loaded with a damaged Stryker. I saw the driver attempting to use his truck like a bulldozer to force them out of the way, and the courageous stand they took to hold their ground.” Hamilton himself was “viciously attacked by the police on Sunday, (Nov 11, 2007), when they hit him with batons and shot him with pepper-balls when he was constructing a peace wreath with four women at the Port – this was after the police had given them permission to do so.”

Larry Mosqueda, another member of OlyPMR, stated that “the media reports have been very mixed and very incomplete. For example, The Olympian did not report that its own reporter and cameraman had been pepper-sprayed by the police and helped by the medics of the demonstrators at the protests.” Mosqueda goes on to say, “About noon on Saturday, (Nov 10, 2007), a convoy of military equipment that had been used to kill Iraqis had been stopped at the corner. A young woman next to me went into the street where she was attacked by a policeman with a baton and shoved to the ground. The police proceeded to try to KICK her back on the sidewalk. This occurred two feet in front of me. I bent over to pick her up and was sprayed directly in the eyes with pepper-spray.”

The courageousness of these protesters was summed up by Wes Hamiton when he said, “It reminded me of the defiance of soulless inhumanity I saw Rachel Corrie stand for. I saw them stand in place taking the full brunt of pepper-spray in the face and remain tall in the onslaught of chemical weapons, despite their obvious suffering. I saw things in them I wish I had the courage to demonstrate. They are doing for us all the things we say we stand for. We can learn from them, and they can learn from us. We need to stand together. I urge everyone to go down to the port to support this action, be an active part of this action, or simply bear witness. What we do here in this small community has the power to resonate around the world”

For more info and how to get involved:

The Olympia Movement for Justice & Peace
Olympia, WA
360-867-6513
omjp@omjp.org

http://www.omjp.org/

To subscribe to the OMJP email list:

http://www.omjp.org/email.html

Latest Rally info:

RALLY 12 NOON

MARKET ST. AND FRANKLIN ST.

EVERYDAY MONDAY-THURSDAY THIS WEEK

FAMILY-FRIENDLY VIGIL

4:30 PM

PERCIVAL LANDING