Tacoma Police arrest nonviolent protesters against Strykers

Three people were arrested for peacefully protesting at the Port of Tacoma at about 12:30 AM Monday morning, March 5, 2007. They were protesting the shipment of Stryker Brigade armored vehicles from Fort Lewis to the illegal war and occupation in Iraq. Caitlin Esworthy was arrested within second after the Tacoma Police Disorder Response Team confronted the protest. Another person, Navy veteran Wally Cuddeford, was then brutally dragged on his stomach (and tasered three times) just after his arrest was captured in this video. Another protester (Jeff Berryhill) was later shot by a rubber bullet as he nonviolently held a sign at the edge of the street (a better view is in the Video Response). Police also aimed shotguns and tasers directly at protesters. The Tacoma police appeared to become less violent after the TV media finally arrived. All charges against the three arrestees were dropped the next day. These protests were part of a continuation of actions begun last year against the use of the Port of Olympia to ship offensive weapons to Iraq. The military at Fort Lewis decided this year to avoid the use of the Port of Olympia (when Thurston County asked it to pay any security and litigation costs), but rather to ship arms at the Port of Tacoma in Pierce County. For background information see http://www.omjp.org (then click Port 2006 and 2007.) Both last year's protests and this year's are not directed at the troops, but rather to support them by ending the war as soon as possible and getting them home this year. In the background you can hear members of Iraq Veterans Against the War exhorting their fellow soldiers to question the war (several soldiers flashed peace signs). Other Tacoma and Olympia groups leading the rally were Port Militarization Resistance http://www.olypmr.org and Students for a Democratic Society. For background on earlier Tacoma-area events, see http://www.omjp.org , http://www.thankyoult.org and http://www.wartribunal.net On GI rights, see http://www.IVAW.org , http://couragetoresist.org and http://girights.objector.org {UPDATE: On July 17, 2007, charges were dropped 13 of the 23 people arrested at the Port of Tacoma.}

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• stryker
• iraq
• war
• fort
• lewis
• port
• tacoma
• police
• brutality
• weapons
• protest

[ex0dus696]

People like this are worse than violent people !

[Dsmalldes]

"hey Soldier, you see this, people are getting snubbed just to tell you the truth." Like it's the Soldiers fault. Give me a break you hippie cock suckers!

[Nueroactive]

@fairykosmo1 Depends upon what country you are from and how rebellious you are! Mental projections are very real. Not all ranks are completely controlled but there are countenances to be formed during training and given perception for all of them!

[Nueroactive]

@DHS1790LE So here I am driving past the Port of Tacoma and they use the non lethal beam and it burns like hell! Ooops I must have been in the wrong somehow, huh? I didn't even know there were protests going on, if there were. Otherwise the security of the Port lacks knowledge that ships/vessels are carrying the beam weapons. Why does the state of Washington not listen to their citizens, why doesn't USA? Possibly because those in power are puppets and are easily lead astray, arrogant positions.

[Nueroactive]

@Arroyoribera And Metallica reveals Puppet Masters and their controls over masses. Once a person signs an agreement they have a mental outfit given to them and will perform under the guides according to this projection. The soldiers have no knowledge that this is put upon them, just as the federal employees had no knowledge of theirs. More and more suits are being made. Including the suits that will be used to bring points across. Killers made to benefit security companies.

[justhockey75]

LEAVE OUR SOLDIERS ALONE BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER GET TO ANOTHER FUNERAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fnogyrabyore]

@ex0dus696 no there not, this pussy protest.....i mean peaceful protest is pointless because it gets jack shit done!

[Arroyoribera]

These young people were trying to prevent the 5th Stryker Brigade from being sent to Afghanistan to kill and commit war crimes. The Rolling Stone and Der Spigel exposes are about the war crimes committed by members of the 5th Stryker Brigade. Thanks to these soldiers of peace for their service. All of us should stand up and act to prevent our tax dollars and our military from killing civilians all over the world. David Brookbank

[Arroyoribera]

These young people were trying to prevent the 5th Stryker Brigade from being sent to Afghanistan to kill and commit war crimes. The Rolling Stone and Der Spigel exposes are about the war crimes committed by members of the 5th Stryker Brigade. Thanks to these soldiers of peace for their service. All of us should stand up and act to prevent our tax dollars and our military from killing civilians all over the world. David Brookbank

[Martial024]

@cavscout888 So the United States government didn't overthrow the Iraqi government? Someone doesn't know what they are talking about..

[DHS1790LE]

In this situation, the protesters are breaking the law by a) assembling for a protest without a permit and b) obstructing a motorway. The police officers should respond with the lowest level of force necessary to restore order. The first step, officer presence, blatantly fails. Next, verbal warnings also fail. By this time, the officers move on to low level physical control. If the subjects become noncompliant, then higher use of force, such as tasers, mace, etc. is authorized.

[fairykosmo1]

the only brainwashed people in this video are the protesters because it's the hip thing to do. The soldiers are not brainwashed as a matter of fact they are taught to think on the fly so as not to get dead. the same can't be said for the protesters who continually suck up tear-gas. As a veteran I was trained to move(duh).