For the past week, the Stryker Brigade from Fort
Lewis, WA has been sending convoys of Stryker vehicles
to the Port of Olympia (Olympia, WA) en route to Iraq
along with truckloads of military supplies,
ammunition, etc. All of the materials are being held
in the Port before a ship picks it all up to bring to
Iraq where the Stryker Brigade will be redeployed.
Members from Tacoma SDS and the newly formed Olympia
SDS in solidarity with many community groups have
taken direct action to stop the shipment of Stryker
vehicles.
Four Tacoma SDSers and over 30 Olympia SDSers have
taken part in the actions throughout the week. Several
have dropped out of school momentarily to monitor the
port, partake in meetings, plan civil disobedience and
direct action, educate the community and revitalize
the local anti-imperialist movement to confront the
military.
Four Olymia SDSers have been arrested for blockading
the convoys as they rolled through the City of
Olympia. A total of 16 people have been arrested so
far. Others have found themselves at the receiving end
of police repression. The city has been anticipating
the arrival of the ship that will pick up the Stryker
vehicles and supplies which will most likely be in the
coming week.
The last large community confrontation to port
militarization caused the ship to leave before it
loaded all of its supplies because of a "breach in
security" when people broke through the Port's gates.
Olympia SDSers are continuing in their fight against
imperialism in Olympia. After all, it's not about
protesting war and imperialism but stopping it.
Olympia SDS has thrown a wrench in the war machine and
intends to throw in many more.
For more information and updates, visit:
www.olyimc.infotage.net
www. olyblog.net
www.omjp.org
www.frolympia.org
and some corporate coverage:
www.theolympian.com
and pics of SDSers:
http://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album430&id=01kneeling_cophttp://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album430&id=05angry_man_verthttp://community.theolympian.com/gallery/view_photo.php?set_albumName=album430&id=protest03and some more general pics:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94127337@N00/sets/72157594144335213/show/
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