This is what the right to peaceful assembly looks like in Amerika today: a cloud of pepper spray in the face.
There has been absolutely no violence against the police. That point was even noted by Commander Bjorstad [of the Olympia, Washington police] on the TV news. . . . The actions taken by the police, using pepper-spray, pepper bullets, and clubbing have not been provoked by anything other than people legally expressing their rights to dissent.
— Veteran for Peace Wes Hamilton
Pepper spraying peaceful protest at Fort Lewis, Olympia, Washington
“We had a number of people who were jumping in the street and that sort of thing. We did deploy a little bit of pepper spray.”
— Police Commander Tor Bjornstad
Peaceful protesters subjected to chemical weapons assault. No one was arrested during this incident. Police did not attempt any arrests during the 9:45 AM [November 11] blockade dispersal.
I am proud of these young people. . . . I saw them 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. . . . 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.
— Veteran for Peace Wes Hamilton
Olympia activists stand firm against continued military shipments through port
Added: November 11, 2007Late Friday afternoon, approximately 50 members of Olympia Port Militarization Resistance (OlyPMR) sat down near the main gate of the Port of Olympia in Washington State. Two tractor trailers, one carrying two Stryker combat vehicles, another filled with military cargo, were blocked from exiting the port. Police arrived on the scene and after failing to persuade the demonstrators to allow one truck through, ceded control of the entrance. The 2 trucks were forced by these circumstances to back up — returning inside the port gate. At this point, OlyPMR controlled movement into and out of the port.
For more info see: www.omjp.org/Port2007.html
Protestors successfully blockaded the port on Friday night and Saturday morning:
Friday, November 9
At 4 p.m., about 40 people block the paths of two trucks carrying a Stryker and cargo containers. The Olympia Police Department does not have enough officers to remove the protesters. Protesters remain at the port entrance all night and build a barricade of garbage cans and a truck axle at the Market Street and Marine Drive entrance. Port workers appear to clear the barricade at about 8:15 a.m. Saturday.
Port Militarization Resistance Code/Statement of Non-Violence
(approved February 18, 2007)We, the members of Port Militarization Resistance (PMR), believe that non-violent social change is a means for people to discover their own power through the peaceful resolution of conflicts, the creation of democratic structures, and the realization of justice – not mere victory. While working in this group we commit ourselves to the following principles:
- We seek to win over our opposition by changing their minds rather than through degradation and humiliation.
- We are willing to make personal sacrifices in order ensure freedom and justice for all people – even our opponents.
- We shall refrain from physical assaults, verbal harassment, and malicious sabotage.
- We remember the need for forgiveness and humility, and always seek to understand each other’s actions, and the actions of our opposition.
- We shall ensure that all our events and meetings are transparent, inclusive, and democratic.
From: Anthony Vicari [mailto: vicaria@ verizon. net]
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 7:27 AM
To: Steve Hall
Cc: citycouncil; Mark Foutch; olympiapolice
Subject: [Unpublished] LETTER TO EDITOREditor, The Olympian;
. . . I feel compelled to give my observation of what has been happening at the Port of Olympia regarding the abuse of anti-war protesters. I live in Everett and came down to the Port of Olympia on Saturday to demonstrate against the movement of military vehicles that have taken part in the illegal, immoral war. . . . the Olympia police are by far the most radical agency that I have come to witness. Without provocation and warning, this police force assaulted demonstrators who peacefully gathered on public sidewalks and in public areas. This has all been captured for viewers of the nightly local newscasts. In fact, a City Council member was assaulted and held an impromptu hearing at City Hall over the subject of police brutality. My observation of the Olympia police has been that they would allow pro-war supporters greater access to the port areas. They would drive up to the pro-war supporters and chit chat, shake their hands and wave at them. This is in stark contrast to their assault of those who stood in opposition to the war. . . . It is my hope that after the Olympia police department is investigated and ultimately sued that they will learn this lesson that police departments such as Seattle and Bellevue have. We are all Americans and despite what side you are on, as a police agency, you cannot pick a side, you are supposed to be impartial and administrators at the Olympia police department should have the common sense to weed out those officers who are not impartial.
Anthony Vicari
Andrew Yankey, a spokesman for a protest group calling itself the Olympia Port Militarization Resistance, said Wednesday that demonstrators weren’t protesting soldiers – just the equipment that he said is likely being sent back for repair before being shipped out again.
“The soldiers have made it home, and we’re really glad about that,” he said. “This is about the military equipment. As long as the government refuses to listen to the will of the vast majority of people who want an end to this war, it’s not safe to allow the military to have its hands on this equipment because it will continue to support the war in Iraq.”
The Port of Olympia Statement:
“We oppose Olympia’s complicity in a war whose disastrous effects have been felt worldwide and we will actively resist the use of Olympia’s port to further that war…. Through nonviolent actions we intend to stop the Port of Olympia from becoming a revolving door of military machinery furthering illegal war. This war has taken the lives of 3,845 US soldiers, over one million Iraqis, and has displaced millions more. These weapons are returning to be repaired and refitted for further combat. We see this as a continuation of the war despite our nation’s and the Iraqi people’s overwhelming opposition to the war.”
I want to applaud your coverage of the 48 fallen Fort Lewis soldiers. The Olympian’s cover broke my heart and was a good reminder as we go through our daily life that men and women are dying every day from this unjust war.
I wish more national media outlets would profile the soldiers that have sacrificed their lives.
I think if more people saw all of the young lives that are taken because of this war, people would be demanding a stop to this war.
Wendy Smith, Olympia
Telling the stories of two of the 48 Fort Lewis soldiers who have died since March, 2006.
Most of the photos above are here.
Also at http://politicalfleshfeast.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=1143#44947
