Protesters Arrested for Attempting to Block Military Cargo in Olympia, WA

Fox News
Monday November 12, 2007

OLYMPIA, Wash — At least three more protesters were arrested Sunday as demonstrations continued against shipments of military cargo through the Port of Olympia.

Others were sprayed with pepper spray by police as they tried to block trucks hauling equipment to Fort Lewis after it was unloaded from a ship carrying the gear back from Iraq.

Protests at the port began Tuesday, after the USNS Brittin arrived and began unloading equipment that had been used in Iraq by the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis.

On Saturday, 12 people were arrested.

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The protestors were greeted by critics who accused them of being disrespectful of veterans.

"I would think what they are doing is a disgrace to our veterans. They are hurting because of what they're seeing happen in the streets of this town," Shelley Webber told The Olympian newspaper. "They will not stop the war, they will not stop our convoys."

Port officials said they could not comment on how much military equipment might remain at the port, waiting to be moved.

Saturday's actions by police come one day after protesters were able to halt two trucks from removing military equipment that had been unloaded from a ship coming from Iraq. The equipment was bound for Fort Lewis, an Army base about 15 miles northeast of Olympia that is home to Stryker combat brigades.

Full article here.

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