TACOMA PORT PROTESTERS ARRESTED AND SHOT WITH RUBBER BULLETS
Submitted by davidswanson on Wed, 2007-03-07 15:10. Nonviolent Resistance
> ACTIONS REQUESTED
>
> There are several eyewitness reports that three people were arrested for
> peacefully protesting at the Port of Tacoma at about 12:30 AM Monday
> morning, March 5. They were protesting the shipment of Stryker Brigade
> equipment to the illegal war and occupation in Iraq. One person was
> brutally dragged on his stomach and another was shot by a rubber bullet as
> they were engaged in non-violent protest. The Tacoma police appeared to
> have become less violent after the media arrived.
>
> Media who want eyewitness testimony should call Zoltan Grossman at
> 360-359-8871 or Patrick Edelbacher at 925-518-9060. They were witnesses
> and can direct you to others.
>
> The war is now being brought home in profound ways. These protests were
> part of a continuation of protests begun last year against the use of the
> Port of Olympia to ship offensive weapons to Iraq. The military at Ft.
> Lewis decided this year to avoid the use of the Port of Olympia, but
> rather to ship arms at the Port of Tacoma. For background information in
> 2006 see www.omjp.org (then click Port 2006.)
>
> For a recent article on the current plans for resistance see "Next Time,
> we'll be ready for them: Port MIlitarization Resistance returns to defend
> the Port of Olympia"  http://www.olywip.org/wip/node/484. Both last year's
> protests and this year's are not directed at the troops, but rather to
> support them by ending the illegal war as soon as possible and getting
> them home this year.
>
> The military equipment is still at the Port of Tacoma and peaceful
> protests are expected to continue this week at the port and elsewhere in
> the city. A vigil is planned for by Olympia Port Militarization
> Resistance (OLYPMR) and Tacoma Port Militarization Resistance (TPMR) in
> Tacoma at Pacific and I-5, from 4-6PM on Monday, March 5. Bring signs to
> oppose war being exported from the Port of Tacoma. On Tuesday, March 6,
> there is a planned rally at Noon at the Federal Courthouse at 1717 Pacific
> Avenue in downtown Tacoma.
>
> To protest the brutal treatment of the peaceful protesters please call the
> following numbers:
>
> Mayor of Tacoma 253-591-5100
> Tacoma Police 253-798-4721
> Tacoma Police Public Information 253-591-5968
> Tacoma Sector Command 253-591-5431
> Tacoma Community Liaison 253-591-5583 and 253-591-7892
>
> Please send this information widely to others. Other cities may want to
> consider having protests in support of the Peaceful protests in Tacoma.
> Larry Mosqueda

>From Drew Hendricks
>
Wally Cuddeford, Caitlin Esworthy and Jeff Berryhill were arrested Sunday
night / early hours of Monday morning by Tacoma Police while nonviolently
protesting the movement of Stryker Combat Vehicles through the Port of
Tacoma.

Tacoma SDS, Iraq Veterans Against the War Olympia Chapter, Tacoma PMR and
Olympia PMR were on hand united to stop the Stryker brigade from moving over
our public roads to this illegal and immoral war.

Tacoma Police officers were seen by this Olympia Copwatch organizer to point
their "non lethal" shotgun (yellow muzzle) directly at the chest of one of
the people at the scene from a distance of 12-15 feet, despite numerous
direct requests at the time to redirect the muzzle of his shotgun downward.
Rubber and wooden shotgun rounds are NOT meant as direct fire munitions -
the use of such a weapon in this manner would be assault with a deadly
weapon. The incident was called into 911 and the operator spoke to me for
about 6 minutes, taking the details of the incident until the dispatcher's
supervisor told her that the victim was a "protester." The 911 operator
hung up on me despite being advised of her participation in obstruction of
justice. The on scene commander refused to speak with anyone present.

That's why we call it the "Just Us" system. One set of rules for us,
another very flexible set for them.

Jail solidarity actions were being planned at the time of this reporter's
withdrawal from the scene. More to come.

Drew Hendricks
Olympia Copwatch, OlyPMR, witness to felony armed assualt
360-870-3127
TACOMA -- Police said they arrested three people for sitting in fornt of a line of officers Monday to protest the shipment of Iraq-bound Army equipment through the Port of Tacoma.

The three were being held at the Pierce County Jail, where they were booked shortly after 3 a.m., for investigation of third-degree assault.

Bail for each was set at $10,000, and court appearances are expected today.

The protest involved about 30 people, and concerned the shipment of Stryker vehicles and other equipment from Fort Lewis.

Tacoma police spokesman Mark Fulghum said the officers had set up a crowd-control line to prevent the protesters from interfering with the military convoy or blocking the road.

The protesters "made contact with the police line and three pushed their way through the line." No one was seriously injured, he said, but one protester was shot in the thigh with a rubber bullet.