Wednesday, December 14, 2011

December 12th - Portland Port Shutdown


Civilian soldiers have again struck a blow to the stockpiles of the 1%. On December 12, 2011 nearly the entire West Coast was shut down by the forces of the 99%. Medford and Ashland sent reinforcements in the form of 12 Occupiers to Portland’s Port Shutdown.

Resistance was heavy by 7:30 a.m. with a massive police presence on bike, by car, and in riot suits. In no way did it stop Occupiers from accomplishing their goals. The police line blocked the road while Occupiers picketed, creating a line of two opposing forces accomplishing the same end: no deliveries in or out.
By 9:30 the crowd at each of the three terminals had swelled to roughly 350 each. As the day wore on the police realized the futility of keeping a large presence at the peaceful picket line and left the area. An announcement was made that the workers had been sent home for the day. There was rejoicing at our first successful shift as the crowds started to disperse, off to prepare for the next shift at 4:00 p.m.

By 1:00 p.m. the crowd at Terminal 5 (where Medford concentrated itself) was down to about 80 people. This is when donations of food came in with a truck which had massive speakers and a DJ with Cascadia on its flat bed. An Occuparty was in motion.

At 3:30 the crowd had grown again. After a few impromptu general assembly meetings it was decided to move the group to the other half of the port for the evening shift. Hundred’s of people made the march or drive 3 miles down the peninsula.

By 8:00 p.m. the ports were effectively shut down with no protest related arrests or reported injuries. It was an impressive display of democracy at every turn as the people operated in solidarity with their fellow citizens to stop the abuse perpetrated against so many working people in this country and around the world.

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