Continuing protests cost city

Police working overtime at Port of Olympia

By Jeremy Pawloski | The Olympian • Published November 08, 2007

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Sandy Mayes said she was thanked by a man in uniform while she was at a vigil Thursday in opposition to the use of the port for the war, citing that as evidence that the message is getting across.

Of the convoys, Mayes said, "When it starts rolling through the streets of my town, I can't stand by; I have to get in the way."

Peter Cooper said another concern of protesters is depleted uranium used in the armor and the munitions of the Stryker vehicles. He said the depleted uranium from damaged Strykers could cause health problems for dock workers who are helping to move them to the convoy.

Olympia police arrested two people during the protests Wednesday night and early Thursday. Police arrested Jonathan Steiner, 20, on suspicion of pedestrian interference and obstruction after protesters took to the middle of the streets after 11:15 p.m. Wednesday in an attempt to stop a convoy.

Shyam Khanna, 19, was arrested when he allegedly stood in the path of a moving Stryker near Eighth Avenue and Plum Street, after protesters had gathered at the Olympia Police headquarters about 2 a.m. Thursday. Khanna was arrested on suspicion of pedestrian interference and resisting arrest.

"The Stryker locked up its brakes and swerved," Bjornstad said of the incident Thursday morning. "The kid was lucky he wasn't killed."

Officers used pepper spray when a crowd gathered around Khanna to prevent him from being arrested, Bjornstad said. It was sprayed in a mist above the protesters, he said.

"No one was squirted directly in the face," he said.

On Thursday, the Brittin left the Port of Olympia. It is expected to take days to remove all of the equipment that was unloaded and return it to Fort Lewis.

Later Thursday night, protesters gathered at the port entrance, waiting in case convoys began moving.

Jeremy Pawloski covers public safety for The Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5465 or jpawloski@theolympian.com.

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