The following is a press release from the West Coast Port Shut Down committee of Occupy Oakland:
interspersed with my comments
On Monday December 12, the Oakland Occupy movement effectively shut down the Port of Oakland for 24 hours as part of a coordinated West Coast Port Shutdown. The action was a resounding success, demonstrating the power of the occupy movement and the widespread support it has, not only on the US coast but inland -- and even as far as Canada -- where allied occupy movement took direct action.
Just Canada? What about Japan, Hawaii, Houston, New York, Denver, and Coos Bay? Hell, they were probably cheering in Egypt too.
Beginning at 5am at the Oakland Port this morning, a crowd of well over 1,000
at least one police estimate was 1500
picketed two main terminals where ships were scheduled to unload, as well another terminal where yard work was occurring. Police
in riot gear
were summoned but retreated without incident. There were few attempts to cross the lines. By 11 am, the arbitrator ruled that there was a Health and Safety issue, and cancelled the shift.
Actually, I posted this diary announcing the confirmed shutdown at 10:04 AM
Later, a lively crowd of many thousands gathered at Oscar Grant Plaza at 4pm and marched to the port for the evening shift. The march was led by Scott Olsen and a contingent of Iraq Veterans Against the War and members of the Teamsters union, followed by the "feminist block."
Unbeknownst to most people, allie123 was out in front of even Scott Olsen and the Vets for much of the way, tweeting and twitpic'ing away.
Another contingent marched from West Oakland Bart station to join the crowd gathered at the Hanjin terminal. The total number was somewhere between 5 and 10,000. At that point there was an announcement that the evening shift at the port had been cancelled, and that other Occupies had been attacked by police (such as Seattle where protesters were tear gassed).
We then marched up and over the freeway and into the Port of Oakland unopposed. It Was Glorious.
Following through on the agreement within the occupation movement to continue the blockade in the event of police repression in any of the port shutdown protests, a crowd of several hundred stayed on and picketed five gates -- two at APL and three at the Matson Terminal -- to prevent the 3 am shift from taking place. Picket lines remained solid until it was clear that the shift had been cancelled.
Then everyone went home and slept for twenty four hours. As they were having visions of a nationwide General Strike dance in their heads, Mayor Quan Exacted Her Petty Revenge.
When they woke up, Time Magazine had named them (along with hundreds of thousands of others around the globe) as Person of the Year. Sometimes it pays to get out of bed.