Occupy Blockade Shuts Down West Coast Ports

A coordinated day of protest action by the Occupy movement successfully shutdown several West Coast ports including the Port of Oakland. Photos by Luke Thomas.

By Luke Thomas

December 13, 2011

In a coordinated day of action dubbed the West Coast Port Blockade, thousands of Occupy activists and protesters from Anchorage to San Diego were able to disrupt commercial activity involving shipping and trucking companies. In Oakland, activists declared a victory after having successfully stopped commercial activity at the Port of Oakland for three consecutive eight-hour shifts.

The daylong action started at 5:30 am when protesters gathered at West Oakland Bart and marched to the Port. There they stopped truckers from transferring cargo containers to the longshoremen assigned to the docks.

Some truckers were supportive of the action while others, including longshoremen, bemoaned the loss of income.

“We get paid by the mile,” one trucker said. “If our wheels aren’t turning, we don’t get paid.”

“You’re meddling with my ability to put food on the table for my family,” a longshoreman was overheard saying to a protester.

Another trucker, of Russian descent, said he understood revolution was sometimes necessary, pointing to the 1917 revolutions in Russia that overthrew autocratic Tsarist rule, and the French revolution in 1789 that overthrew the ruling absolute monarchy.

Police did nothing to prevent the protest. Around 11 am, there was a decision by a labor arbitrator deciding there was a valid “community” picket line that had to be respected and the longshoremen shift was called off.  Jubilation overtook  the crowd, and there was a break in activity.

Alameda County Sheriff's Department personnel clad in riot gear were on scene but were outnumbered.

Remembering Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen.

The protesters reconvened at 3 pm for a second action. There was a rally for about an hour. Former advisor to Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Dan Siegel, said the protests were necessary because the US is in a “crisis.”

“This country is ripe for the change that this movement represents and that is change that takes away the power from the big corporations, takes away the power from the big banks, shuts down their collaborators – whether they are collaborators in government or the union movement – and builds a real radical democracy where the people make the changes that determine the welfare of their lives,” Siegel said.

Former advisor to Mayor Jean Quan, Dan Siegel.

As many as 4,000 Occupy protesters then peacefully and noisily marched from Frank Ogawa Plaza to the port of Oakland, terminating at berths 55 and 56. There was no police intervention; only a handful of police controlling traffic. A smaller contingent of Occupy protesters arrived from West Oakland BART and joined forces with the larger group. Entertainment accompanied the crowd, which included DJ music and a performance from a band called The Nerv. During a 7pm General Assembly meeting, it was decided by consensus that the protest would continue through the night to disrupt the 3 am shift.

As many as 4000 protesters marched from Oakland City Hall to the Port of Oakland.

More photos

Occupy protesters block trucks from entering the Port of Oakland in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police stood guard in a show of force but held off from intervening in the protest.

Frustrated but patient truckers were prevented from dropping and picking up containers.

Protesters danced and sang songs while other protesters formed picket lines.

"Shut down Wall Street on the Waterfront, in the service of humanity."

Protesters alight on a grassy knoll at the Port of Oakland.

"Government needs more money? Tax the filthy rich and end the bloody wars."

"Bail out schools and services, not banks! Stop foreclosures!"

"Occupy everywhere. Tax the rich. Solar peace. Stop corporate personhood."

A pre-march rally was held at Frank Ogawa Plaza (aka Oscar Grant Plaza) at 3pm. One sign read, "It's right to rebel."

"Yes, change is inconvenient. Thank you Oakland port workers."

"We tried voting. Now we #Occupy."

A protester holds a 99% orange balloon.

"If you're not angry, you're not paying attention."

Occupy protesters alight outside Oakland City Hall prior to marching to the the Port of Oakland...

... and proceeded down Broadway.

"By any means necessary."

"Stop EGT Union busting in Longview. Defend truckers' right to unionize. We are the Port Authority."

A sea of Occupy protesters make their way to the Port of Oakland.

Some protesters clambered on top of trucks parked outside the entrance to berths 55 and 56.

Occupy protesters settle in for a long night outside berths 55 and 56 at the Port of Oakland.

"Evict us and we'll multiply! Occupy will never die!"

Kat Anderson contributed to the production of this article.

Luke Thomas

Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.

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