Demonstrators gathered at the Port of Olympia’s main gate Tuesday night to block military shipments from the port to Fort Lewis, but the Army outflanked them and moved several convoys out another gate.
Olympia police in riot gear wore gas masks as they prepared to remove protesters from the main entrance about 11 p.m. At the same time, military convoys left for Fort Lewis from the port exit to Marine Drive.
Protesters ran to the Marine Drive location and attempted to block the convoy, and police responded to protesters blocking Stryker vehicles by shooting pepper-spray bullets and pepper spray into the crowd. A witness said police also threw two concussion grenades into the crowd.
About 50 people were arrested Tuesday night, police said.
Convoys continued into this morning, and a convoy moved shortly after 1:30 a.m.
Olympia Police Lt. Jim Costa said Tuesday night, “We’re going to keep moving equipment as long as we can.”
People arrested were held in an Intercity Transit bus that was guarded by police, Costa said. They were to be held throughout the night so they couldn’t rejoin the protests, he said.
Janis Duddles, 56, of Olympia, said she was arrested about midnight after yelling at police. She said she isn’t a member of a protest group and was shocked by the proceedings.
She said she was held in a 9-by-10-foot cell with 17 people for about two hours, then was released because she has a heart condition and told officers at the jail.
“I think the biggest deal is not necessarily what was happening on the street, but somehow, the Olympia Police Department thinks it’s OK to put 17 people in 90 square feet,” Duddles said. ”How dare they.”
She said that the others in the cell, all women in their 20s, weren’t allowed to leave.
“That’s breaking my heart, those little girls are stuck in there,” Duddles said at 2:15 a.m.
So much for wymin powah.
After the convoys left, the unrest moved downtown about midnight. Windows at U.S. Bank on Capitol Way were broken out, and Olympia police officer Chuck Gassett said his car was hit by a rock and dented........................
....and peaceful war protesting......
