Oakland Docks story on SFgate.com

This is what i found this morning
It is quite entertaining


"No arrests or incidents to report this time," said Oakland police spokeswoman Danielle Ashford Monday evening after close to 400 anti-war protesters marched to the Port of Oakland to demonstrate against two shipping companies that they say are linked to the war on Iraq.
Ashford said the protesters who began assembling at the West Oakland BART station about 5 p.m. -- remained peaceful Monday night as they marched toward the Port of Oakland to picket two targeted shipping companies -- Stevadoring Services of America and American President Lines. The protesters allege the two companies represent a connection between corporate globalization and the United States' military action abroad.

The majority of the protesters reportedly picketed and attempted to block the entrances of the two shipping companies.

Ashford said police wanted to make sure there was not a repeat of the earlier Port of Oakland protest on April 7 where police ended up firing wooden dowels, bean bags, and stun grenades into the crowd.

"Our approach is totally different," Ashford said.

Police met with several organizations and representatives of protest groups prior to Monday's rally.

"We didn't do that last time," Ashford said. There's more communication between us and the protesters this time."

Sasha Wright, of Direct Action to Stop the War, one of the groups that organized the protest, said there was no shipping activity Monday evening at the Port of Oakland because officials from the two targeted companies decided not to call workers for the night shift.

Officials from the two shipping companies were unavailable for comment.

"We see this as a victory," said Wright, who said her father and brother are longshoremen who work at the port.