Tacoma Port Militarization Resistance: Stop the Styker convoys

Last year the military exported war and occupation through the Port of Olympia in broad daylight. The Olympia community responded with strong resistance. Fort Lewis was scared enough to avoid Olympia this year and has decided to export war through Tacoma instead, under the cover of darkness. Convoys of equipment began movement to the Tacoma after midnight early Friday morning.

Tacoma Port Militarization Resistance (PMR) is working with Olympia PMR to protest and stop the shipment of more military vehicles (and consequently, more troops) to Iraq.

OUR ACTIONS ARE NOT AGAINST THE TROOPS. They are directed at the approximately 300 Stryker vehicles that are being shipped to Iraq from the Port of Tacoma IN ADVANCE of the deployment of the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division from Fort Lewis. The 4th Brigade is being deployed earlier than planned, as part of George Bush's suicidal "surge." They are being deployed so quickly that they are forced to skip their final desert training in California.

THE WORST THING that will endanger the troops is to ship them over to Iraq. Our actions are being conducted out of concern for the lives of US soldiers and, equally, the lives of Iraqi people.

We expect the Styrkers to be loaded onto a military ship bound for the Persian Gulf on Friday. That gives us less than a week to act.

---------

GET INVOLVED!

Here are the actions planned so far. More to come.

SATURDAY, MARCH 3
Party at 9:30 PM at the Port of Tacoma. We'll keep ourselves warm and entertained as we wait for more Stryker vehicles to arrive. DIRECTIONS: Take Exit 136B off I-5. Go down Port of Olympia Rd. Turn Left on E 11th. Follow until you reach Milwaukee.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4
IN OLYMPIA: Nonviolent Direct Action/Civil Resistance training. Learn to empower yourself with these basic tools of democracy. 10 am to 6 pm, at Evergreen, Seminar II, E3105. (cosponsored by SDS Olympia and EPIC student groups)

Following the training at 6:15, there will be a meeting of Olympia PMR (at the same place) to discuss plans for the week.

IN TACOMA: Iraq War teach-in. University of Puget Sound, Wyatt 109, 4 pm. At 5:30 there will be a discussion on the actions at the Port of Tacoma. Sponsored by SDS Tacoma.

MONDAY, MARCH 5
Vigil at Pacific and I-5 in Tacoma, from 4 to 6 PM. Bring signs to oppose war being exported from the Port of Tacoma.

TUESDAY, MARCH 6
Noon: Rally at the Federal Courthouse on Pacific, in Tacoma.
2:30: Following the rally, there will be a meeting at University of Puget Sound to plan for the rest of the week. Go to the Main Student Center.

THURSDAY, MARCH 8 & FRIDAY, MARCH 9
Second Nonviolent Direct Action/Civil Resistance training in Olympia. If you couldn't make the Sunday training, here's an additional workshop split into two evenings, both from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Thursday at United Methodist Church (1224 Legion Way SE). Friday at Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 2200 East End St NW. These dates, particularly the Friday one, is subject to change due to actions at the Port of Tacoma.

FRIDAY, MARCH 9
Ship begins loading Styrker vehicles?

--------

Check the Tacoma SDS website (tacomasds.org) for action updates throughout the week.

For more information, including sleeping accomodations in Tacoma for the week, email facilitator [at] tacomasds.org