[olympiaworkers] Support Grows for Occupy Movement's Coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown on December 12th

Indybay.org

As of November 27, 2011, the Occupy movement in every major West Coast
port city: Occupy LA, Occupy San Diego, Occupy Portland, Occupy Tacoma,
Occupy Seattle have joined Occupy Oakland in calling for and organizing a
coordinated West Coast Port Blockade and Shutdown on December 12, 2011.
Other West Coast Occupies, including Occupy Anchorage and Vancouver,
Canada are planning to join the economic blockade and disruption of the 1%
on that date, according to organizers.

"We're shutting down these ports because of the union busting and attacks
on the working class by the 1%: the firing of Port truckers organizing at
SSA terminals in LA; the attempt to rupture ILWU union jurisdiction in
Longview, WA by EGT. EGT includes Bunge LTD, a company which reported 2.5
billion dollars in profit last year and has economically devastated poor
people in Argentina and Brazil. SSA is responsible for inhumane working
conditions and gross exploitation of port truckers and is owned by Goldman
Sachs. EGT and Goldman Sachs is Wallstreet on the Waterfront" stated
Barucha Peller of the West Coast Port Blockade Assembly of Occupy Oakland.

"We are also striking back against the nationally' coordinated attack on
the Occupy movement. In response to the police violence and camp evictions
against the Occupy movement- This is our coordinated response against the
1%. On December 12th we will show are collective power through pinpointed
economic blockade of the 1%."

Each Occupy is organizing plans for a mass mobilization and community
pickets to shut down their local Port. The mobilization of over 60,000
people that shut down the Port of Oakland during the general strike on
November 2, 2011 is the model for the West Coast efforts. Organizers state
that a police attempt to disrupt the port blockade or police violence
against any city participating will extend duration of the blockade on the
entire coast.

"These Ports are public. People have a right to come to the Port and
protest. The ILWU has historically honored picket lines at the Port."
stated Clarence Thomas, a member of ILWU Local 10.

ILWU longshore workers are involved as individuals in the planning of the
Shutdown. "I am a longshoreman and I support the December 12th Blockade
against EGT. EGT is a threat to the survival of the ILWU," stated Anthony
Leviege, a member of Local 10. Dan Coffman, the president of Local 21 in
Longview, has publicly thanked the Occupy movement and Occupy Oakland for
its actions on November 2nd.

Further interviews and details can be obtained through local Port Blockade
committees and the Oakland West Coast Port Blockade Assembly.

http://westcoastportshutdown.org/