Belfast Telegraph

Sunday 13 July 2014

Occupy protests block US ports

Protesters set up a picket line at a Port of Portland terminal (AP)

More than 1,000 Occupy Wall Street protesters have blocked cargo trucks at some of the West Coast's busiest ports, forcing terminals in Oakland, California, Portland, Oregon, and Washington state to halt operations.

While the protests attracted fewer people than the 10,000 who turned out on November 2 to shut down Oakland's port, organisers declared victory and promised more demonstrations to come.

"The truckers are still here, but there's nobody here to unload their stuff," protest organiser Boots Riley said. "We shut down the Port of Oakland for the daytime shift and we're coming back in the evening. Mission accomplished."


The longshoremen's union did not officially support the protests, but its membership cited a provision in its contract that allowed workers to ask to stay off the job if they felt conditions were unsafe.

Some went home with several hours' pay while others left with nothing. Oakland longshoreman DeAndre Whitten, who lost about 500 dollars, said: "I hope they keep it up. I have no problem with it. But my wife wasn't happy about it."

Others, such as the truck drivers who had to wait in long lines as protesters blocked gates, were angry, saying the demonstrators were harming the people they were trying to help. "This is a joke. What are they protesting?" said Christian Vega, who sat in his truck carrying a load of recycled paper. He said the delay was costing him 600 dollars. "It only hurts me and the other drivers. We have jobs and families to support and feed. Most of them don't."

From Long Beach, California, to as far away as Anchorage, Alaska, and Vancouver, British Columbia, protesters beat drums and carried signs as they marched outside the gates. There were a handful of arrests, but no major clashes with police.



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