Tacoma's daily paper won't be winning any Pulitzer prizes for its reporting on this week's Port of Tacoma protests.  --  The News Tribune appeared principally concerned with purveying official views of the developing protest around the shipment to Baghdad of Stryker vehicles through the Port of Tacoma for use in the disastrous war in Iraq.  --  (On Monday, nine more U.S. soldiers — U.S. military dead to date, 3,185 — and hundreds of Iraqis were killed in the ongoing civil war that has engulfed the country in the aftermath of the failed U.S. occupation.)  --  In its reporting on the Port of Tacoma protests, the paper left out essential information, ignored key perspectives, and got some key facts wrong, despite having four reporters on the story.  --  A fourth protester was arrested late Monday evening, but the McClatchy-owned paper did not published any of the names of those arrested in either of its versions of its Tuesday morning story.[1,2]  --  Instead, it named the spokesperson for Fort Lewis (once) and spokesperson for the Tacoma police (seven times).  --  But reporters did dig up some interesting background.  --  Fort Lewis is claiming to be ignorant of why the Port of Tacoma is being used, saying the decision had been made "by planners at the U.S. Army Surface Distribution and Deployment Command at Fort Eustis, Va."  --  "The Army has made frequent use of both ports [Tacoma and Olympia] in recent years.  Tacoma is designated as a national strategic port, and the military is one of the port’s long-term customers.  But due to increased container traffic at Tacoma, the Army went looking for an alternative, and in 2005, five military ships called in Olympia, none at Tacoma.  Last year, two military ships called at Olympia — although none since May — and three at Tacoma.  The Port of Tacoma reported military shipments accounted for about 2 percent of its $92 million in revenue last year."  --  On the police violence in the early morning hours of Mar. 5, though, the Tacoma paper had nothing to say, failing to report observers' outrage at the use of unnecessary force.  --  Its account is based solely on information from Tacoma police spokesperson Mark Fulghum, and does not quote eyewitnesses, though names and telephone numbers were available on the internet all day Monday.  --  The News Tribune posted on its web site a gallery of eight photos by Russ Carmack of Monday night's protest, but did not include a large photo that it ran on the back page of Section A on Tuesday morning featuring some of the colorful signs made by the Tacoma Puppetistas for the Watada court-martial, featuring the slogans "The war is illegal" and "Stop this war of aggression" — messages conspicuously absent from the reporting and photos that the News Tribune did post.  --  The photo is available elsewhere on the website, however.  --  Those wishing to tell the News Tribune what they think about the mediocrity of its reporting can find contact information here....

1.

News

ACTIVISTS BRING WAR PROTEST TO TACOMA
By News Tribune staff

News Tribune (Tacoma, WA)
March 6, 2007 (as updated at 3:35 a.m.)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/6402103p-5709013c.html

[PHOTO GALLERY (see link above) CAPTION: Stryker Brigade's vehicles traveled from Fort Lewis in small groups of approximately 25 vehicles and were escorted by Fort Lewis Military Police and state and local law enforcement to the Port of Tacoma. Approximately 60 protesters were greeted by over 60 riot equipped Tacoma and Seattle Police officers as the Strykers were driven into a secure holding lot. The Army is moving hundreds of Strykers, trucks, Humvees and other vehicles for shipment to Iraq with the 4th Brigade. Russ Carmack/The News Tribune. (8 photos)]

[PHOTO CAPTION: War protester Tom McCarthy talks to a passer-by on the Pacific Avenue overpass of Interstate 5 during rush hour Monday afternoon. Photo: Russ Carmack]

Anti-war activists who protested a Stryker brigade’s departure for Iraq out of the Port of Olympia last May are campaigning against this week’s movement of another Stryker brigade, this time through the Port of Tacoma.

About 60 protesters stood in the port late Monday and faced at least as many Tacoma and Seattle police officers in riot gear. Police, who arrested two men and a woman early Monday, arrested another woman late Monday after she crossed a line on Milwaukee Way that police had designated as a boundary. The rest of the protest was peaceful.

The three arrests came shortly after a small convoy of 12 to 15 Army vehicles arrived at a storage yard at the port. More vehicles, including Stryker armored fighting vehicles, arrived late Monday and early today, as protesters shouted the chants "You don't have to go" and "We are the majority."

The Army is moving hundreds of Strykers, trucks, Humvees, and other vehicles for shipment to Iraq with the 4th Brigade. The Fort Lewis-based brigade is leaving a month earlier than previously scheduled, as part of the “surge” of U.S. forces to Iraq.

Over several days last year, Olympia police arrested dozens and used pepper spray to stop people from climbing fences into port property. Organizers -- the “Olympia Port Militarization Resistance” -- claimed victory in the Army’s decision to move this year’s load-out to Tacoma.

“They didn’t want the demonstrations repeated,” said activist Mark Nelson of Key Peninsula, who waved a sign that said “No War of Aggression” with about two dozen others Monday afternoon on the Pacific Avenue overpass above Interstate 5.

Officials at Fort Lewis said movement decisions are made by planners at the U.S. Army Surface Distribution and Deployment Command at Fort Eustis, Va. Typically, the selection of a port is based on its availability.

“I don’t know why they made the decision to go out of the Port of Tacoma instead of the Port of Olympia, but that’s where it comes from,” spokesman Joe Hitt said.

The Army has made frequent use of both ports in recent years. Tacoma is designated as a national strategic port, and the military is one of the port’s long-term customers. But due to increased container traffic at Tacoma, the Army went looking for an alternative, and in 2005, five military ships called in Olympia, none at Tacoma.

Last year, two military ships called at Olympia -- although none since May -- and three at Tacoma. The Port of Tacoma reported military shipments accounted for about 2 percent of its $92 million in revenue last year.

Fort Lewis officials said the movement of 4th Brigade vehicles to the Port of Tacoma began Sunday and is expected to continue through Friday. [NOTE: In fact, the vehicles began to move to the port Fri. evening, Mar. 2. --M.J.]

Convoys of up to 25 vehicles are leaving from the post’s logistics gate late at night and during the early morning hours to avoid traffic on Interstate 5, officials said.

Among the vehicles to be shipped are more than 300 Strykers, each outfitted with slat armor that protects them from rocket-propelled grenades. But the metal cages make the Strykers about four feet wider and add some 5,200 pounds.

The convoys are traveling under escort of state and local law enforcement and Fort Lewis military police, officials said.

The Port of Tacoma has hired off-duty Tacoma officers to stand guard while the military equipment is stored at the port, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said. Members of the department’s disorderly response team and bicycle rapid response team are also on standby, and were present at the demonstrations early Monday.

Fulghum said the three arrests occurred in separate incidents between 12:20 and shortly after 1 a.m. According to police reports, one man charged through a police line and came at an officer in a threatening manner.

Police shot him with a foam projectile about the size of a small soda can -- a non-lethal device that officers use in hopes of stopping a person without causing serious injury, Fulghum said. The man arrested Monday suffered a bruised thigh, he said.

A second man was arrested after he too pushed his way past the police line, Fulghum said. He struggled with officers trying to detain him and sustained a cut on his right knee, Fulghum said.

The woman who was arrested also pushed past the police line, Fulghum said, and tried to grab at one of the officers. A second officer pulled her back in a “bear hug-type” hold and took her into custody.

The three were being held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail each for investigation of assault.

Fulghum said demonstrators “have been told they could protest but they have to follow the rules,” including, among others, that they can’t block streets, sidewalks, or cross a police line.

Protest organizers indicated Monday they might carry out acts of civil disobedience in hopes of disrupting the load-out and persuading military planners to stop using the port for shipments to the war zone.

“The ultimate goal is to do everything we can to stop the war, and what we can do now is go down to the port,” said Patrick Edelbacher, 20, of the Tacoma Port Militarization Resistance.

Soldiers driving the trucks and Strykers have been briefed that they might encounter protesters at the port, said Piek, the post spokesman.

“They’re going to . . . take all necessary precautions to make sure things are done in a safe manner,” he said.

—Staff writers Kelly Kearsley, Stacey Mulick, Michael Gilbert, and Paul Sand contributed to this report.

2.

News

ACTIVISTS BRING WAR PROTEST TO PORT OF TACOMA

News Tribune (Tacoma, WA)
March 6, 2007 (posted Mar. 5 at 11:16 p.m.)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/updates/story/6402103p-5709013c.html

Anti-war activists who protested a Stryker brigade’s departure for Iraq out of the Port of Olympia last May are campaigning against this week’s movement of another Stryker brigade, this time through the Port of Tacoma.

About 50 protesters were at the port late Monday, facing at least an equal number of police in riot gear. Police, who arrested two men and a woman early Monday, arrested another woman late Monday after she crossed a line on Milwaukee Street that police had designated as a boundary.

That came shortly after a small convoy of 12 to 15 Army vehicles arrived at a storage yard at the port. More vehicles, including Stryker armored fighting vehicles, were expected to arrive later Monday and early today.

The Army is moving hundreds of Strykers, trucks, Humvees and other vehicles for shipment to Iraq with the 4th Brigade. The Fort Lewis-based brigade is leaving a month earlier than previously scheduled, as part of the “surge” of U.S. forces to Iraq.

Over several days last year, Olympia police arrested dozens and used pepper spray to stop people from climbing fences into port property. Organizers -- the “Olympia Port Militarization Resistance” -- claimed victory in the Army’s decision to move this year’s load-out to Tacoma.

“They didn’t want the demonstrations repeated,” said activist Mark Nelson of Key Peninsula, who waved a sign that said “No War of Aggression” with about two dozen others Monday afternoon on the Pacific Avenue overpass above Interstate 5.

Officials at Fort Lewis said movement decisions are made by planners at the U.S. Army Surface Distribution and Deployment Command at Fort Eustis, Va. Typically, the selection of a port is based on its availability.

“I don’t know why they made the decision to go out of the Port of Tacoma instead of the Port of Olympia, but that’s where it comes from,” spokesman Joe Hitt said.

The Army has made frequent use of both ports in recent years. Tacoma is designated as a national strategic port, and the military is one of the port’s long-term customers. But due to increased container traffic at Tacoma, the Army went looking for an alternative, and in 2005, five military ships called in Olympia, none at Tacoma.

Last year, two military ships called at Olympia -- although none since May -- and three at Tacoma. The Port of Tacoma reported military shipments accounted for about 2 percent of its $92 million in revenue last year.

Fort Lewis officials said the movement of 4th Brigade vehicles to the Port of Tacoma began Sunday and is expected to continue through Friday.

Convoys of up to 25 vehicles are leaving from the post’s logistics gate late at night and during the early morning hours to avoid traffic on Interstate 5, officials said.

Among the vehicles to be shipped are more than 300 Strykers, each outfitted with slat armor that protects them from rocket-propelled grenades. But the metal cages make the Strykers about four feet wider and add some 5,200 pounds.

The convoys are traveling under escort of state and local law enforcement and Fort Lewis military police, officials said.

The Port of Tacoma has hired off-duty Tacoma officers to stand guard while the military equipment is stored at the port, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said. Members of the department’s disorderly response team and bicycle rapid response team are also on standby, and were present at the demonstrations early Monday.

Fulghum said the three arrests occurred in separate incidents between 12:20 and shortly after 1 a.m. According to police reports, one man charged through a police line and came at an officer in a threatening manner.

Police shot him with a foam projectile about the size of a small soda can -- a non-lethal device that officers use in hopes of stopping a person without causing serious injury, Fulghum said. The man arrested Monday suffered a bruised thigh, he said.

A second man was arrested after he too pushed his way past the police line, Fulghum said. He struggled with officers trying to detain him and sustained a cut on his right knee, Fulghum said.

The woman who was arrested also pushed past the police line, Fulghum said, and tried to grab at one of the officers. A second officer pulled her back in a “bear hug-type” hold and took her into custody.

The three were being held in Pierce County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail each for investigation of assault.

Fulghum said demonstrators “have been told they could protest but they have to follow the rules,” including, among others, that they can’t block streets, sidewalks, or cross a police line.

Protest organizers indicated Monday they might carry out acts of civil disobedience in hopes of disrupting the load-out and persuading military planners to stop using the port for shipments to the war zone.

“The ultimate goal is to do everything we can to stop the war, and what we can do now is go down to the port,” said Patrick Edelbacher, 20, of the Tacoma Port Militarization Resistance.

Soldiers driving the trucks and Strykers have been briefed that they might encounter protesters at the port, said Piek, the post spokesman.

“They’re going to . . . take all necessary precautions to make sure things are done in a safe manner,” he said.