5 more protesters arrested as final trucks exit port

By Christian Hill | The Olympian • Published November 16, 2007

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OLYMPIA – Five protesters were arrested Thursday at the Port of Olympia as the final truck shipments of military equipment passed through the port's gates, police said.

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Railcars loaded with equipment remained at the port. Dick Machlan, a spokesman for Olympia Police Department, said he didn't know when they would be shipped out.

"At this point, we're hoping that our part of this whole thing is over with," he said. "We're going to be watching it closely, but we're kind of assuming at this point that we're pretty much done."

Police arrested the protesters about 3:15 p.m. after they blocked the road leading out of the port for a second time Thursday as tractor-trailers carrying military equipment were preparing to leave. Police used pepper-spray pellet guns and batons held crosswise to force protesters off the road. One protester who remained on the road was sprayed with pepper spray and dragged through a rain puddle. He was taken to someone's home to recuperate, and fellow protesters said he appeared to be OK.

Smaller groups

Fewer than two dozen protesters demonstrated outside the port gates for most of the day. Sandy Mayes, a member of Olympia Port Militarization Resistance, said Thursday's turnout was lower because many protesters had to return to work and classes.

Those arrested were taken to the Olympia City Jail and booked on suspicion of violating the city's pedestrian-interference ordinance.

Sixty-three people have been arrested since the protests at the port began Nov. 6, the day after the USNS Brittin docked to unload military vehicles and equipment that the 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, used during a 15-month deployment to Iraq. The brigade's soldiers returned home last month.