Freedom Socialist • Vol. 29, No. 4 • August-September 2008

Northwest war resisters organize legal defense and more blockades

by Patty Imani

Blocking the road in Olympia, Wash., to stop transport of military cargos through the Port of Olympia, November 2007. Credit Robert Whitlock

After two years of vigils, marches and petitioning officials to halt war-related shipments through our public port, Olympia Port Militarization Resistance (PMR) formed in Washington state in May 2006. PMR is a coalition of anti-war activists who refuse complicity in war crimes and profiteering.

As combat equipment destined for Iraq rolled through our town and into our port, we decided to resist the war machine by standing in front of the machines of war. Of 37 arrests, 22 activists were prosecuted. However, not a single guilty verdict was won in trial.

In November 2007, combat equipment again met resistance as it came back through our port for repairs before returning to Iraq. OlyPMR called for containment of combat equipment used for the purpose of war crimes. In 13 days of civil resistance, framed by diverse nonviolent direct actions, 66 arrests were made, mainly for "pedestrian interference."

Of those arrests, seven activists are facing trial — all of them women or people of color. And all are victims of police misconduct including illegal use of chemical weapons, denying medical attention, arresting those who objected to police brutality, and political persecution. The charges have been raised to "obstructing an officer."

OlyPMR needs legal defense funds for those facing trail. If you can help, please make donations payable to Port of Olympia Legal Defense Fund and mail to POLDF, PO Box 295, Olympia, WA 98507-0295, or donate at www.olypmr.org/donate.html.

Despite the court's attempts to criminalize us for engaging in nonviolent direct civil resistance, we are not the criminals. We are upholders of laws that forbid crimes of war, crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.

We expect more combat equipment through one of our regional ports in July 2008 from Iraq, and new deployment of equipment for the 5th/2nd Stryker Combat brigade to Iraq in early 2009. Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party have shown tremendous solidarity. Join us also! Please visit us at www.olypmr.org.

Patty Imani is an activist with OlyPMR and Olympia Movement for Justice and Peace. She can be reached at pattyimani@riseup.net.