The Power of the People Don't Stop: West Coast Port Shutdown Dec. 12

From the West Coast Port Shutdown website:

SUPPORT GROWS FOR OCCUPY MOVEMENT’S COORDINATED WEST COAST SHUT DOWN ON DECEMBER 12TH

As of November 27, 2011, the Occupy movement in every major West Coast port city: Occupy LA, Occupy San Diego, Occupy Portland, Occupy Tacoma, Occupy Seattle have joined Occupy Oakland in calling for and organizing a coordinated West Coast Port Blockade and Shutdown on December 12, 2011.   Other West Coast Occupies, including Occupy Anchorage and Vancouver, Canada are planning to join the economic blockade and disruption of the 1% on that date, according to organizers.

“We’re shutting down these ports because of the union busting and attacks on the working class by the 1%: the firing of Port truckers organizing at SSA terminals in LA; the attempt to rupture ILWU union jurisdiction in Longview, WA by EGT.  EGT includes Bunge LTD, a company which reported 2.5 billion dollars in profit last year and has economically devastated poor people in Argentina and Brazil. SSA is responsible for inhumane working conditions and gross exploitation of port truckers and is owned by Goldman Sachs. EGT and Goldman Sachs is Wallstreet on the Waterfront” stated Barucha Peller of the West Coast Port Blockade Assembly of Occupy Oakland.

The Movement Strikes Back

“We are also striking back against the nationally’ coordinated attack on the Occupy movement. In response to the police violence and camp evictions against the Occupy movement- This is our coordinated response against the 1%. On December 12th we will show are collective power through pinpointed economic blockade of the 1%.”

Despite what you might be led to believe by the MSM (mainstream media), ILWU rank-and-file are on board:

“These Ports are public. People have a right to come to the Port and protest.  The ILWU has historically honored picket lines at the Port.” stated Clarence Thomas, a member of ILWU Local 10.

ILWU longshore workers are involved as individuals in the planning of the Shutdown.  ”I am a longshoreman and I support the December 12^th Blockade against EGT.  EGT is a threat to the survival of the ILWU,” stated Anthony Leviege, a member of Local 10.  Dan Coffman, the president of Local 21 in Longview, has publicly thanked the Occupy movement and Occupy Oakland for its actions on November 2nd.

For more detail on the WHY and HOW, including ILWU’s support, read Boots Riley’s report.

Posters and Flyer pdfs here

UPDATE 12/2/11:
Long Beach Press Telegram: “Workers set up picket lines at Ports of L.A., Long Beach”

Journal of Commerce: “Picketing Halts Work at Four LA-LB Terminals“

Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports: “Trucking Industry exposed for “ripping off” workers and taxpayers; Department of Labor vows crackdown“

BREAKING NEWS: Confirmed Texas Occupies to Converge On Houston Port December 12 #occupyseattle #occupyvancouver #occupytacoma #occupydenver—
WC Port Shut Down (@occupytheport) December 06, 2011

@occupytheport @occupyoakland Auckland NZ will be marching with you… SOLIDARITY! fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc… #oanz #oo #ows #occupy—
  (@OccupyAuckland) December 08, 2011

Doro Chiba Railway Workers 12/12 Demonstration in Solidarity with the West Coast Port Shutdown

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