seattle indymedia center

When Americans are ashamed of the Marines and soldiers
who kill Iraqi men, women and children for oil,
the Olympia protesters make us proud of America again.

The reason military recruiters focus on the youngest
possible victims is because they need to get to people who are as naive and uninformed as possible. Once they suck someone in they make it EXTREMELY difficult, both psychologically and physically, to break free of the war machine. We need to do everything we can to support our troops by pressuring the government to bring them home and supporting those who refuse to fight in the meantime.

Will someone please get the info from the Port of Olympia onto Indymedia.US ??

I wonder why the transports don't go out over night, like 2 or 3 am? Is there a blockade 24 hours a day?

Yes, this was a 19 hour blockade over the weekend. 50-100 people sat arm locked for hours, through the night.

Observers are seeing military vehicles (some with fuel tanks towed) going into the port this morning. That's not likely to be anything other than fuel for Stryker vehicles to move out under their own power in convoys, much like we saw a week ago (Wednesday night) from 9PM until 3:30AM Thursday. Except this time, there are about 60-80 vehicles left in the Marine Terminal and they would be able to move out in about 5-7 convoys (around two or three per hour). We are not sure how long they take to fuel up, but we will be watching them and hope to predict movements with more precision.

You people are brave. I'm inspired to take action. We're going to organize as best we can down here to block the war machine.

Mr. Vicari, thanks for your cc. It's the Council's and the City's goal for the police to be, and to be seen to be, absolutely impartial in enforcing the law, regardless of their personal opinions.

As you can imagine, we are receiving a variety of impressions from the public, both from witnesses and from those who have been reading the newspapers and watching the media reports.

Our policy with regard to public events (including demonstrations) here in Olympia is that we will provide whatever levels of service we have available at the time (such as traffic control) but that the amount of resources available will depend on how much notice we have of the event. Our police department has attempted to make advance contact with event organizers in the past, with mixed results. Sometimes organizers are willing to give advance notice, submit a plan for their event, and live up to their commitments, but all too often they are not. I could be wrong, but I believe in this case that they were not willing to coordinate in advance. I think our police would have welcomed such advance coordination, and commitments that would be KEPT. I'm sure they do not enjoy being put under this kind of stress.

After this multiday, very controversial engagement, I'm sure City staff will be reviewing what happened and why, what went right and what did not. It would be helpful if event organizers could or would participate constructively and commit to following whatever agreed-upon standards that might come out of that process. But, having lived here for more than 20 years, 16 of those in public office, I have my doubts that this or succeeding generations of activists can or will commit to any longterm agreed protocols and so the police have to be legally trained and equipped for any eventuality.

BTW, seven lines from the bottom of your letter, I think you meant "partiality." I can see those kinds of mistakes instantly in other peoples' writing , but never my own. :>)

Mark Foutch
-----Original Message-----
From: Anthony Vicari [mailto: vicaria@verizon.net]
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 7:27 AM
To: Steve Hall
Cc: citycouncil; Mark Foutch; olympiapolice
Subject: LETTER TO EDITOR


Editor, The Olympian;

For what it's worth, 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. I have taken part in and helped organize many anti-war demonstrations in the Puget Sound area over the 5 years of this illegal, immoral war. I must say, 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 thier hands and wave at them. This is in stark contrast to their assault of those who stood in opposition to the war. Now, in my experience with police departments around Puget Sound, never have they displayed such impartiality. Whether it be in Seattle, Bellevue or here in Everett, the police are there to observe and show complete non-partisanship. In fact, prior to the demonstrations, it is common practice for demonstrators to sit down with the police departments and lay down the ground rules and hammer out the logistics of the demonstrations. 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
2902 13th St
Unit 1-A
Everett, WA 98201
425-259-5183
 vicaria@verizon.net

these are really important actions. i am inspired and proud. good work!