I read Kilgore's post back in November and have just come across it again and am still struck by some of her remarks as contradicting the tenor of her article.

When Tony Overman was so very threatened by protesters and was cornered against a chain-link fence, pinned, how was he able to reach his cell phone to make a 9-1-1 call? It sounds like he is so pinned up he couldn't get loose. But, "can you hear me now?"

And later in her diatribe she notes that an officer in riot gear took a swing at Jeremy Pawloski, then later apologized, saying he didn't realize he was a reporter?!!? So, it would have been OK to take a swing at a NON-reporter? What was Pawloski doing that warranted a 'swing' from a police officer?

And Matt McVay was struck in the face with a pepper ball fired by police. He was also on staff and presumably doing nothing untoward. So why the indiscriminate shooting of pepper balls by the police. Who trained these jokers.

And, who in the world let Vickie Kilgore at the editorial helm of The Olympian. Her editorial is obviously biased against the protestors even though she cites at least 3 pretty major screw-ups by the police. Her leash needs to be tightened.
Mike | 02.05.08 - 10:36 pm | #
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I also saw Tony Overman pepper sprayed. Police warned him to get out of the way, but he was committed to capturing photographic images, and he stayed in the danger zone where he received the shock of exposure to pepper spray (albeit a relatively light application compared to the dousing that the non-threatening protesters who were holding the peaceful blockade received.)

Here's a link to a picture showing Mr. Overman's exposure to chemical weapons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwh...ock/1955069469/
Robert Whitlock | 11.26.07 - 5:27 pm | #
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What I saw at the port:

I saw non-threatening protesters sustaining an assault by police clad in riot gear.

I saw police heavily spray non-threatening protesters with chemical weapons without attempting to make arrests.

Non-threatening protesters were assaulted by police.
Robert Whitlock | 11.26.07 - 10:56 am | #
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Some truths

1. Children were being openly abused including a mother dropping one on it's head.

2. These people are also protestors for NAMBLA.

3. This is funded by Al Queda.

4. Send these POS to Cuba or Venezuela and see how much they hate america afterwards!

These protestors are scum of the earth. They danced on 9/11 they cheered when it was announced more soldiers had died. They worship Bin Laden.

They need to be all sent to Cuba or Venezuela and be replaced by the millions trying to flee those countries.

Their main goal is sharia law in the US.
Steph | 11.19.07 - 5:35 am | #
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So where can I go watch smelly hippies get tasered and pepper sprayed Saturday? Sounds like a fun outing for all!
Me | 11.16.07 - 7:49 pm | #
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Keep hydrating at the moment to flush all of the chemicals out of your system; pepper spray is nasty stuff, banned by international treaty in warfare.
medic | 11.15.07 - 11:21 am |

Pepper spray is capiscum, extracted from yes, peppers. It's ORGANIC man! LOL
Anonymous | 11.16.07 - 4:55 pm | #
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I sure wish we could get to some issues instead of all this name calling. If you have to call each other names, please do it with a clever hand, with a little guile and cunning. That makes it fun. Like the invention of the acronym "POOP" (Port Of Olympia Protestors)! It’s clever. Who has a good one for the flag wavers (not fascists or war mongers)? – let’s have some originality! Nothing quite as entertaining as the back handed insult. Let’s apply a little intellect.

Will someone tell my why they think this is an illegal war. Didn’t the House of Representatives approve it? Wouldn’t that make this a legal war? Then, and this is a harder one, can someone tell me why this war is immoral? Morality is kind of subjective isn’t it (kind of like religion)? I’m not real interested in cut and paste answers or some one posting the numbers of casualties from a web sight where numbers are non-confirmable. For every set of numbers you come up with that make it look awful (financial and human) I can come up with a web page that makes it look (not as bad) or better (no deaths are good but some wars seem to be worth fighting). So, no internet support, come up with some ideas on your own.

Then, will one of the opposition to the protestors make a case as to why peaceful protests shouldn’t be supported. It is a constitutional right. I think except for an exception here and there, most people oppose the violent protests as counter productive (am I wrong?). Also for the right side, aside from supporting the soldiers (we all love those guys and girls – again, except for a small exception), why is the Iraq War a good idea? Support the issue with facts. I have my answer and I’ve posted it all over the place. I’d be flattered if you cut and pasted mine but what I’m hoping to see is some new answers. Originality and some superior intellect! What I’m looking for are thinkers, not sheep who let other people do their thinking for them and merely regurgitate “facts”. If you think the war is helping an oppressed people tell us all how.

Let's get ready to Rumble!

Hey! If you want to keep the kids from fighting, make them do some homework!
Man, I love this web sight! Well! Let’s argue some issues!
amused | 11.16.07 - 2:46 pm | #
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i'm embarassed by the actions of the of the protesters, they reflect very poorly on the town that i used to proudly call my home.

Evergreen should take a stand against this kind of protesting. it reflects poorly on the school and is adding to its already somewhat marred reputation.

SHAME on you Evergreeners and the adults who egged them on. you are making this world a worse place with your actions. AND your message, if you actually have one, is TOTALLY lost in your actions. how DARE you threaten someone or make them feel threatened because they aren't doing what you want them to do, or doing something you don't like. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO DO THAT. you are not helping anybody in your protests. NOBODY is benefitting from what you do.

...your self-righteous egos sure do though, i bet.

honestly, you make me sick. you give thinking liberals a bad name.
Olykid80 | 11.16.07 - 2:08 pm | #
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“Please Think”. As long as you are going to use the great Mahatma Gandhi as an example, when was your last missed meal? When was the last time you marched 400km as in the Salt March to Dandi (in sandals and a homemade robe)? When was the last time you were sentenced to 6 years of prison for your non-violent acts? How dare you compare yourself to either of these great men who ultimately gave their lives to change a wrong? Rosa? She had more guts then any of your friends. She refused to move her seat but at no time in her life did she struggle with the police, resist arrest or even drag her feet. She had marvelous discipline and a better sense of humor. She represented an oppressed people. Who are the oppressed people you represent? Soldiers? They volunteered to be doing what they’re doing. Swore an oath to do what they’re doing. Are you representing the Iraqi people? They were tortured, gassed, executed randomly by their former leader Sadaam. Now, they are enduring a civil war (even if the present administration won’t admit it). They have endured ethnic and secular strife for years. We’re trying to show them the way to live under their own leadership with multiple religions/sects. Be careful. All the people you’re writing to aren’t as dumb as you think they are.
amused | 11.16.07 - 1:58 pm | #
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Back in 1968, our Police Department here in Chicago knew and still know how to handle "protesters" being egged on by left-wing liberal anti-American elitists. I invite these protesters to come and protest in Chicago and "go ahead, make my day".
Arthur Nicholas | 11.16.07 - 1:39 pm | #
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Diana, are you serious with your line of reason (clear the street of marathoners…)? I’d attack it but it’s almost a bit too comical. You seem a bit defenseless.

Here’s a test for you. Have the protestors start down in Lacey and have them all run at say a 7 minute mile pace, in formation to the steps of the Capitol (not sure how many miles that would be). Maintain formation and carry all your signs. You can even wear your goggles and masks. See if anyone obstructs you. Heck, I’d be cheering my butt off for you! I’d even man a water station. I guess my point is that, at least a marathon seems productive, admirable, even difficult. Protesting doesn’t seem all that hard to me. I have to take some pepper spray to my eyes (been there except we called it CS) and have some one push me out of the road with a baton (heck, practicing soccer with my 15 year old daughter is scarier than that). Quit your whining. Embrace your punishment. It’s your personal badge of honor.
amused | 11.16.07 - 1:25 pm | #
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I saw that Tess. I wonder why that wasn't on the front page of the Olympian?
Please think, While I understand the point you are making, to mention Martin Luther King Jr, Ghandi and Rosa Parks in the same posting with these miscreants who claim to be peaceful protesters is an insult to their memories and their accomplishments.
MSG, HOOAAH! Thank You for your service.
Bear | 11.16.07 - 1:24 pm | #
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Al jazeera is now wanting to publish pictures, etc. I think treason is the correct word.
oly miss | 11.16.07 - 1:12 pm | #
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Who are the actual professors the reporters saw? This would be helpful to publish, so the public would be educated about this.
oly miss | 11.16.07 - 1:10 pm | #
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Take a look at www.michellemalkin.com

I'm speechless....not surprised, but speechless.

I wish CPS would get involved.
Tess | 11.16.07 - 12:15 pm | #
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Diana, I appreciate your right to assemble and protest voice, but you analogies to procession, marathons, and bicyclists are poor. All of those either got permits to close down the road, or in the case of critical mass, Bicyclists have the same rules as cars on the road, as long as they are following the rules they can be there as well. Why did these protesters choose a method of protest that gained them no sympathy and only hurt their cause. Is the problem that Olympia is used to peaceful protests, and when they didn’t get the attention they wanted so they began to commit crimes?
rdog | 11.16.07 - 11:34 am | #
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LOL "Don't swing, I'm with the media!" This piece is nothing more that an attempt to cover their backsides. While the Daily Olympian wasn't entirely responsible for the acts of violence and destruction that occured during the "peaceful" demonstration, like most media they fanned the flames to further sensationalize the story. Even though I have little interest and regard for the media, I applaud your staff for covering the story.
Bear | 11.16.07 - 11:28 am | #
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The problem with all of Diana's what-ifs are the actions of these protesters are illegal. Destroying property and violence (as well as endangering children) is not "free speech." These protesters are an embarrassment to the rest of the dissenting voices in America.
Reason | 11.16.07 - 11:01 am | #
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I would appreciate it if the reports would actually name and professors if they can document it concretely.
oly miss | 11.16.07 - 10:33 am | #
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Is it just me, or do these whiny "protesters" comparing themselves to Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Jr., etc. have a severely inflated sense of their importance?
John Galt | 11.16.07 - 10:24 am | #
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Diana, I think your comments are just a little too intelligent for the people who spend their days at work posting here, complaining about lazy hippies.
Sick of thugs | 11.16.07 - 10:19 am | #
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My first thought was that an honest apology and a handshake is the way two real men (sexist, but I'm old enough not to be ashamed of it) should deal with one swinging on the other by mistake.

My second was that if the positions were reversed, I don't think the officer would have let it go with an apology.

Where's John Wayne when we need him?
Anonymous | 11.16.07 - 10:01 am | #
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This has gone way beyond protesting. The people who are disturbing the port should be arrested and tried for sedition. The mothers who are using their underage children to try to block moving vehicles should have their children removed by child services.
Diller | 11.16.07 - 9:41 am | #
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G. steak | 11.16.07 - 12:53 am | #
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Next time, "Rachel Corrie" a few of them. The rest will get the message and move out of the way.
Yuri Orlov | 11.16.07 - 12:51 am | #
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LOL....
"no need for force...we are non-violent"
Yeah seems like it was real "peaceful" down there.
Good job cleaning up the scum OPD.
Steph | 11.15.07 - 11:42 pm | #
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MSG Vance--
Why is it that you believe that wanting our troops out of Iraq, away from all the dangers involved in an occupation of a country full of people who don't want you there and back home is synonymous with HATING them? I have been at the port and I don't hate the troops, in fact, I think that all of the people who say that they "support the troops" and mean they support our government are hypocritical idiots. The soldiers who are stationed in Iraq did not make the decision to invade in, the soldiers who die are not dying because they thought up this brilliant idea of occupying a country conveniently rich in oil, they are dying because some very greedy and selfish higher-ups started an illegal war.
I don't know if you are who you say you are, I don't really care. What concerns me is that you are saying insulting and untrue things about people you don't know. Protesting against an action taken by your government is not "ANTI-AMERICAN"

Another thing, I have a question for everyone who keeps screaming about the scary, evil, law-breaking protesters who need to rot of their seditious little rears in a jail cell indefinitely. Do you remember a certain Martin Luther King? Mahatma Gandhi? Rosa Parks? A whole lot of other people who supported good things but weren't backed up by their government? People who broke laws in acts of civil disobedience? If it was "American" to follow blindly behind our leaders, there wouldn't be an America because we would have been too busy following and not breaking laws to have a revolution.
please think | 11.15.07 - 11:37 pm | #
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And you need to get your insults correct. I don't know of many people who are pro-war. There are people who understand the necessity of war. In my mind that does not make them pro-war.
Anony1B | 11.15.07 - 11:13 pm | #
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Ok Diane I'll play your little game.

1) Violation of pharmacy administrative codes does not result in jail.
There is a difference between administrative codes and felony/misdeamenor citations.

2) If a court of competent jurisdiction, not opinion, ever rules that GW and crew has violated any law then yes, hold them accountable.

3) Again, if a court of competent jurisdiction ever says that the Iraqi war is illegal then have at it.

Your opinion of UN Charters, Congressional mandates and on and on is not considered a court of competent jurisdiction.

Ok? Better?
Anony1B | 11.15.07 - 11:12 pm | #
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These protesters have gone above and beyond the call of duty...I hope activists all over the country are going to head to Olympia and back them up.
Sam | 11.15.07 - 11:07 pm | #
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So do all of you law and order folks think that Kevin Stormans should lose his pharmacy license and/or go to jail for violating the codes of the Department of Health for not stocking Plan B at Ralph's Thriftway?

An activist judge gave him a free pass for now, but he was violating the codes for months. Shouldn't he be punished?

Should the Bush Administration be punished for getting us into an illegal war?

Should the soldiers be punished for obeying unlawful orders in an illegal war?

Should we be punished for providing material support to an illegal war?
Diana | 11.15.07 - 10:46 pm | #
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Nice attempt at justification Diane. Didn't work on those of us who are free thinkers.

Our administration may not have respect for rules, people or dare say laws, but I sure do and so do most of the people who don't like the actions of the protesters who chose to break laws regardless of how minimal they might have been.
Anony1B | 11.15.07 - 10:33 pm | #
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diana,

Try to follow along. There will be a test at the end.
Blue | 11.15.07 - 10:08 pm | #
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I guess that means that if I disagree with the speed limit or stopping at stop signs I can just disregard them and there should be no consequences. You CAN disagree. You CANNOT break the law to do it.
Blue | 11.15.07 - 10:07 pm | #
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Well, lets see. When they have a marathon or the procession of the species, they get a permit from the city for their event. That permit requires that they have certain security and traffic control measures in place. As for the truck blocking the street, it would be okay to tow it. I suppose you could use pepper balls on it, but it wouldn't have much effect. As has been said sooooo many times before, the "protesters" were UNLAWFULLY blocking the streets after being warned repeatedly to move or be sprayed and arrested. Your comparisons are rediculous. You are going to have to do better than that.

As a footnote, I have never seen a marothon runner, marcher in the procession of the feces, rider in critical mass, or business owner throw rocks at the police. If they did, you bet they would deserve some pepper.
Z | 11.15.07 - 10:01 pm | #
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These "protestors" are NOT patriots; they DO NOT support the troops and ARE NOT good citizens! They are nothing more than a seditious bunch of thugs who are BREAKING THE LAW and I would be more than happy to assist the police in some "serious" RIOT CONTROL! These morons are NOT PEACEFUL and are comprised of socialist/communist anarchists (which is also a complete contradiction of philosophies…like I said, complete and utter MORONS) who hate the troops and our country and are a TOTAL DISGRACE! The only good to come from this mean and disgusting group is that people will yet again see how EVIL and STUPID these IDIOTS really are, and especially disgustingly STUPID for blocking Soldiers and their equipment from RETURNING!!! I mean, isn’t that supposed to be what they want? In reality all they want is to have America brought to its knees because they are ANTI-AMERICAN SCUM!!!

Sincerely,

Master Sergeant Vance
U.S. Army
MSG Vance | 11.15.07 - 9:54 pm | #
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Would it be okay for the police to use pepper spray and batons to disperse a mob of marathon runners who are blocking the street?

Would it be okay for the police to use pepper spray and batons to disperse a mob of people marching in the Procession of the Species who are blocking the street?

Would it be okay for the police to use pepper spray and batons to disperse a mob of cars who are blocking the street, say, in a traffic jam? What about to disperse a crowd of bicycles in a critical mass group bike ride who are blocking the street?

Would it be okay for the police to use pepper spray and batons to disperse a commercial business who uses the road to load and unload their trucks who are chronically blocking the street?

So why is it okay to use pepper spray and batons on protesters?

What ever happened to "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." ? This used to be one of our bedrock democratic values.
Diana | 11.15.07 - 9:36 pm | #
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Pepper spray is completely appropriate for dispersing a mob, I don't care how peaceful they were, they were blocking traffic and needed to be moved. It's too bad the pepper spray wasn't more effective.
Yikes | 11.15.07 - 9:13 pm | #
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Nonviolent | 11.15.07 - 2:29 pm | #,
Liar.
Felicity | 11.15.07 - 9:13 pm | #
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....political dissent is not a crime, and people exercising their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly should not be criminalized.

It's not. They weren't.
For the millionth time.
Felicity | 11.15.07 - 9:08 pm | #
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People keep saying that the police warned the protesters, who were peacefully blocking the street, four times before pepper spraying them and hitting them with batons.

This statement uses logical subterfuge to obscure the moral and ethical question of whether it is acceptable, according to community standards and the values of a democracy, for police to use violence and chemical weapons against people who are protesting peacefully.

I would argue that the use of police violence is not acceptable to clear citizens from a road. I don't care if they warned them one time or one hundred times.

The tactics the police used would not even be an acceptable form of formal punishment a judge could impose in a courtroom upon a citizen who had been convicted of a crime. If it would be considered cruel and unusual to impose a sentence upon a felon to be beaten with sticks and gassed in the face, then police should not be able to use these violent punishing means upon crowds of peaceful citizens who have not even been convicted of a crime.

All that said, political dissent is not a crime, and people exercising their rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly should not be criminalized.
Diana | 11.15.07 - 8:59 pm | #
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Right on Vickie Kilgore.

You couldn't have summed up the events or the sentiments better.

While you and I may have a different position on the war, that's a wholly separate matter. What matters in Olympia today is civil behavior and consequences for those who become lawless. I have particular distain for professors who lead such organized KAOS.

I'm not entirely happy with the counter protesters, either. Supporting troops, even the police is one thing. But those who taunt exhibit bad form. I hope all concerned examine their own behaviors.

I, too, was impressed with the coverage of Olympian reporters, photographers and videographers. These folks had the guts to put themselves in harm's way for the benefit of informing the public. They performed admirably, the coverage was impressive, both in print and images. Please pass on my thanks for their commitment to excellent journalistic coverage.
Charlie | 11.15.07 - 7:59 pm | #
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The cops are going to kill someone and I blame Vickie Kilgore for contributing to the environment where this will happen.
Sr. Citizen | 11.15.07 - 5:34 pm |

I was there.. The police warned everyone 4 times to get out of the road. The protesters created an unsafe environment for the police, soldiers, truck drivers, and for citizens.

I am surprised no one was killed on Monday. I would not have blamed the Police one bit. They acted with such restraint. More than I would have had.
A Bob | 11.15.07 - 7:57 pm | #
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Google or Wiki "useful idiot" and "brown shirts" and then go look in the mirror. You are not the "free, independent thinkers" you profess to be. You are marionettes that are manipulated with so much ease.
Brett | 11.15.07 - 7:14 am | #


You win for best post of the week Brett
A Bob | 11.15.07 - 7:54 pm | #
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I find it interesting that now the Olympian is part of the conspiracy theory for some of you. It seems that if anyone has a different interpretation of the events than you do, they are wrong and can't be believed. My question is this, why should we believe you over the paper? At least they have a track record and are doing their job. You are just promoting your own personal agenda.

Also, in order for there to be an assault, their needs to be a victim. If the reported did not feel like he was the victim of an assault, then there wasn't one. You can't be the victim for him.
Z | 11.15.07 - 7:23 pm | #
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Why did he call 911? WOW!! Are you really that stupid? Lets see, the 'cops' were already there, but were busy with the folks in the road. In case you didn't notice, they were stationed on a line, not out patrolling the crowd. If he was pinned against a fence, what was he supposed to do, call time-out and go ask an officer to help? Obviously he felt threatened and there wasn't an officer standing there so he did what we are all told to do since we were 3.......call 911. Why did the protestors all call 911 and clog an emergency network when they wanted their buddies in the bus to be let loose? Let's not talk about that. Suppose a real emergency was going on somewhere else in the city and the call couldn't get thru because the 'protestors' wanted the buddies out of the bus, what would you say then? Selfish acts by spoiled rotten, my way is the only way, I won't listen to anyone else, my rights are more important than yours, brats. Plain and simple.
B | 11.15.07 - 7:18 pm | #
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Truth teller, yes, I believe you and the others like you ARE pro war. You seem to get all excited about it. And in the excitement you lose all ability to use logic and reason. This is like a big game to you because it isn't you getting blown up. All your support for the war amounts to is rooting for the home team.
B.C. | 11.15.07 - 6:51 pm | #
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Does anybody actually read these comments, or these stories, or is this just a spot for people to spout off ignorant indignation?
rdog | 11.15.07 - 6:48 pm | #
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Why did the reporter feel the need to call 911? The police were already there. Your story does not add up Olympian. And I'd say the pepper ball to the face and the attemted assault are a good sign of police not using any discretion at all. So the cop said he was sorry, so what? That wouldn't work for any of us. This whole article sounds biased in support of the police. Shame on you Olympian! Shame!
B.C. | 11.15.07 - 6:45 pm | #
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My understanding from the descriptions here and on Olyblog.net are these:

Jeremy P being swung at is that he was behind or beside the police officer, in an area they were trying to clear of protesters. He was in a place he was not supposed to be.

Matt McVay was struck by a pepperspray pellet because in was caught in the crossfire as protesters ran between him and the police.

Tony Overman was behind an individual who was being pepper sprayed and received some of the over-spray.

The paper has been fairly consistent using the term counter demonstrator to describe those that were protesting the protesters, so I would use that to guess that Overman was menaced by protesters, not counter demonstrators. They should have been more clear on that.

The argument that violence happened when the police were not there is ridiculous. Nobody was hurt when my house was burglarized, but a crime was still committed, and my rights were still violated.

Billy King, you are right when you say the cops weren't there to arrest people. They were there to try to keep the road clear for the convoy. Pepper spray does not have long term effects and often works to move people from where they are breaking the law. It can also be used at a safe distance.

Also, I do not support the war, I support productive demonstration against the war, and for these protesters to use techniques that are obviously not working (further polarizing, not gaining the sympathy of the people) only sets back the cause.
rdog | 11.15.07 - 6:42 pm | #
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Rocky - most of the "protesters" of the Vietnam era,at least in the "back east circles" in which I was familiar with, were trying to evade having to go to Vietnam via the draft.The desire to "copulate" with some fine "free-loving" hippie chicks was an incentive as well.I suspect the latter has a little something to do with the current "protesters". After reading your comment,I don't believe you guys really have a cause. Everything you site for reasons are out of Michael Cubans' personal diaries ! I am sure that "some" of the "protestors" cleaned up "some" of the mess & yada-yada-yada - (a mess that should not have been made btw)but, "It was established at Nuremburg that civilians who don't stand up to the illegal and unjust actions of their governments are RESPONSIBLE". I guess that means YOU are responsible for the violent actions of the anarchists at your otherwise "peaceful protest".Afterall, they are the "leaders" of your new gov't.
Grandpa America | 11.15.07 - 5:47 pm | #
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Vickie Kilgore and Mike Oakland sold us the war over 4 years ago and now they are backing the cops, even as they cops take swings at their reporters.

This is disgusting.

Very few protesters were breaking any laws, but Vickie Kilgore thinks its OK for cops to take swings at anyone there (reporters, whoever) regardless of whether these people were individually breaking any laws.

The cops are going to kill someone and I blame Vickie Kilgore for contributing to the environment where this will happen.
Sr. Citizen | 11.15.07 - 5:34 pm | #
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Doesn't anyone appreciate the irony of the protesters?

They use the same tactics as the enemy; deploying children as human shields.

They are anything but peaceful.

And the best one; they attack and threatent Overman the photographer, the very people they are trying to gain the attention of.



C,

You use the term pro-war protester. Do you really think that is accurate? Do you really believe anyone is pro-war? The group you so label are coming from a viewpoint you don't seem to understand; they love their country, and they don't feel you should treat our people in uniform (our heroes)like the demonstrators have been.
TruthTeller | 11.15.07 - 5:15 pm | #
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Thank you Vicki for clearing the rumors. I totally understand how this reporter felt as my husband and I were caught in the mayhem on Saturday at 4th and Plum.

We came back to get their pictures without masks on and were confronted by angry protestors who accused us of being rude and disrespectful. One protestor got in my face pointing and yelling at me. At one point, we were approached by the Professor and one of his students who took our picture. His comment was “Two can play your game.” Unfortunate he thinks of this as a game.

Kudos to you and the Daily O for your attempt to defuse this horrible situation.
White Car | 11.15.07 - 5:01 pm | #
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1) What is it that these whining protesters are crying about. You blocked a public street, you disobeyed a direct and lawful order by the police to move. Therefor you broke the law. You still refused to move and the police took the necessary action to move a large group of people that refused to follow a lawful order. Plain and simple. If you morons would have moved like you were told to, you wouldn't have gotten sprayed.

2) TJ Johnson was the political moron who in influencing these hippie greeners. He was plastered all over the news using his power and approving the use of a tax payer provided building to hold a meeting of the greener platoon!! This apparently wasn't a public meeting because OPD was not invited to speak!

3) This whole "Non-Violant" protesting is a bunch of crap. From what I see here, dumpsters and magazine bins being thrown into the streets, bank windoes being broken out, police cars windows getting broken out is what normal people call "violant" protesting!

They really do have a whacked out and distorted view of reality. Actually.. maybe they are legally blind because they just didn't see what the rest of the community sees!! Criminal Activity! I guarantee that if I were to walk down town and bust out the window and disobey an order from the cops, you can bet your sweet ass that I would be tazed, pepper sprayed and whatever "non-lethal" means used to arrest me for BREAKING THE LAW! Look at it this way... maybe you guys just should have been shot. That is your other option from the spray and batons!!

A little too much of the wacky weed has been consumed by these folks is my guess!!!

Giddy up OPD and the other assisting agencies for doing your job.. and a good job at that!
This is getting old | 11.15.07 - 4:37 pm | #
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I think that a company of Infantry soldiers should be on hand from now on to clear the road of all the idiots.
SSG US Army | 11.15.07 - 3:56 pm | #
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You start out your article claiming that the news staff did NOT get attacked by police, but a camera did get attacked by protesters. Half way through your article you say a videographer got shot in the face by police with a pepper ball and a reporter got swung at by police...I think getting shot and swung at is getting attacked. How does this reporter feel about waterboarding? Torture or not? One of the reasons protesters are getting louder is so they can cut through corporate owned media...you know the same folks that spoon fed you weapons of mass destruction with no proof!
Sam | 11.15.07 - 3:54 pm | #
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if you want to knwo whats going on down there - GO DOWN THERE. Dont take anyones word for it. But im not here to convince you
lacey | 11.15.07 - 3:44 pm | #
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You need to read OPD's manual on use of non-lethal tools (ie pepper spray). It's use at the port conforms to OPD regulations. Read it before you start spouting off. Once you read it, you can blame the chief of police and the city manager for the policies they have in place. Of course you could just blame the protestors, but that would be far too easy I suppose.
Yikes | 11.15.07 - 2:32 pm | #
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Any violence, intimidation, or property destruction which has occurred at the Port recently (that wasn't caused by the police) was certainly not the fault of Larry Mosqueda, TJ, Drew Hendricks or Sandy Mayes. Unfortunately, both pro-war and anti-war adrenaline junkies and thugs have been attracted to the Port recently, but PMR is not encouraging those people and that kind of behavior -- quite the opposite.
Nonviolent | 11.15.07 - 2:29 pm | #
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Rocky, I know how you feel. I feel very much the same way. But in Jeremy's defense, he probably just wants to keep his job, a feeling I can understand.
ANGRY AT THE O | 11.15.07 - 2:26 pm | #
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I forgot to add

9.) Hold TJ Johnson accountable for using the city hall, at taxpayers expense, to hold a gathering for protesters. Hold anybody accountable who OK'ed him using our city hall for that purpose too.
Over & Out | 11.15.07 - 1:59 pm | #
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1.) Nowhere does it state in the article "these men in positions of influence in this community" who frightened Tony Overman so badly.

2.) I applaud Vickie Kilgore for making the effort to clear up the rumors.

3.) I applaud the OPD who did a great job containing these crazies.

4.) DEB will you please print that list of those arrested here for those of us who don't get the newsstand edition?

5.) Why bother to catch & release the criminals? Hold them accountable just like anybody else would be if they were arrested.

6.) Hold PMR, TJ Johnson, Larry Mosqueda, Drew Hendricks, Robert Whitlock and Sandy Mayes as well as any & all who were arrested financially responsible for any & all damages and costs incurred during this fiasco they started.

7.) The future city council needs to study what happened here in order to put a plan in place to prevent it from ever happening again. Obviously, the current city council doesn't give a damn. Some of them participated. None of them spoke out about it except the mayor through a press release issued to The Olympian. Our Govenor, our mayor, our city council members all stuck their head in the sand and ignored our city being destroyed. My guess is the city council just doesn't give a damn anymore because most of them are on their way out anyway, why bother. Doug Mah needs to put situations like this first & foremost and satisfy the people of this city that this will never happen again.

8.) The prosecutors office needs to throw the book at all those arrested and seek arrest warrents for those I mentioned in 6.) and throw the book at them too.
Over & Out | 11.15.07 - 1:55 pm | #
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I think that these people that are jumping up and down about the cop that "took a swing" at the photographer, have NEVER been put into a situation such as urban warfare, where anyone in your sight could be trying to kill you. Believe me, in that kind of situation, you react first and ask questions later.
G-Man | 11.15.07 - 1:54 pm | #
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Thanks Olympian for setting the record straight. It's obvious by the property damage recently that not all the protesters are as peaceful as the claim to be.
Hmmmmmmmm | 11.15.07 - 1:48 pm | #
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I think the experience of the Olympian employees shows that you don't have to be breaking the law in order to be at risk of injury from the OPD. On Tuesday morning, when no police were present, demonstrators peacefully, but unlawfully, sat in the street and prevented military vehicles from exiting the port. No one was hurt. Strange how the presence of anti-war protesters didn't cause any injuries. Later that night, when the cops arrived, lots of people were hurt, as the cops used force to ensure that the military and the port could go about business as usual. Vicki Kilgore tries but fails to blame the demonstrators for the violence against the Olympian reporters and photographers. It's pretty obvious what the Olympian's biases are -- and the paper seems to be doing it's best to rile up the pro-war types, many of whom have been physically threatening the anti-war demonstrators recently at the Port. I guess THUGS are happy with the Olympian.
ANGRY AT THE O | 11.15.07 - 1:35 pm | #
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Lies and misrepresentation. I've been there all week. We were very cordial and friendly with Olympian reporters--especially Jeremy. I don't know a single person who would attack a photographer, and if it was the counter-protesters who did this, you'd better set the record straight. Yes YOU Olympian. You have a responsibility to this community to do so.

As for "violence," what violence? The tear gas, rubber bullets and billy clubs used by the cops? How does throwing a few dumpsters in the streets (btw they picked up all the trash afterwards...THE PROTESTERS DID out of respect for the community) compare to this even remotely? How does this compare to the horrific violence experienced daily by the people of Iraq?

How does being a few minutes late for work or a broken window compare to being raped in a refugee camp? To having your home invaded by US soldiers for no reason? To the horrific onslaught of violence we have unleashed upon the people of Iraq? How does it compare to having your arms blown off? To PTSD? To inadequate medical care? To command rape? To stop-loss?

Have we all forgotten why most of us oppose the war in the first place? This is slaughter, trauma, rape and unholy terror unleashed against a sovereign nation--against Iraq and against our own soldiers. Wake up, people. It was established at Nuremburg that civilians who don't stand up to the illegal and unjust actions of their governments are RESPONSIBLE. And sitting around saying "the war is bad" does NOT count.

We aren't hoodlums or criminals. We are workers, students and families. We come from all economic classes. We want to see a just world, and we're actually DOING something to make it happen. Desperate times call for desperate measures. And we take them...up to and including non-violent civil disobedience. A few rock-throwers do not represent us. As a group we are doing the best we can to stop the war.

And don't forget what non-violent civil disobedience is. During the vietnam war movement, during the civil rights movement, activists were labeled as "violent," "dangerous" and "criminal." They were just trying to create a better world, and in many ways they did. Don't forget where many of the privileges you enjoy come from. Stop whining and join us at the port. We will welcome you with open arms.

There is no justification for violently attacking nonviolent protesters. There is no justification for pepper spraying people for any reason except self-defense. You've seen the videos on the Olympian website of saturday morning. You saw the people who stood in front of the chain link fence and without raising an arm against the police faced wave after wave of pepper-spray. You saw them beaten and pushed down and dragged. You saw their hands remain at their sides.

You saw a line of people with arms chained together shot without warning with pepper balls. How could these people be a threat to the police? Their arms were chained together! A person cannot be a threat if she has physically constrained herself. Once again, totally unjustified use of chemical agents against non-violent people. These people were no threat to the police.

I'm really disappointed with the Olympian for their dishonest reporting, with their skewing of the truth, with their attempts to slander anti-war protesters and with the promotion of vigilantism against us on their site. I'm especially disappointed with Jeremy, who we were always polite to, who we spoke to and shared information with, and who contributed to this article without mentioning that a photographer was pepper-sprayed in his presence. We all saw it happen.
Rocky | 11.15.07 - 1:08 pm | #
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When the Police arrived on Saturday morning at the Port, it was clear that they had no intention of arresting the demonstrators. Arrests are standard practice in civil disobedience actions. It would have been the appropriate course of action, requiring a minimum of force. The Police merely had to tell them that if they did not move, they would be arrested. The only decision at that point would have been whether the demonstrators would have walked or been carried to a waiting police van.

However, the Police chose to use pepper spray at close range at the main gate. I am sure the police photographer has similar photos to those taken by observers.

Questions: Who made the decision not to arrest the peaceful demonstrators? What did the Chief of Police, the City Manager, the Mayor, and the City Council know about this plan and when did they know it?
Who approved that decision?
Is it City policy to pepper spray citizens who are not resisting arrest? Is it City policy to pepper spray citizens who pose no threat to the safety of the Police or the community? If it is not City policy, what is the process for disciplining these officers and when will that take place?
Was the officer doing the close spraying following Department SOPs? If not, who authorized such close use of pepper spray and repeated use of pepper spray? Who will investigate and how will that officer be disciplined?
Billy King | 11.15.07 - 1:06 pm | #
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After the peaceful demonstrators at the fence were pepper sprayed, the Police moved in to remove them. It appears that excessive and unnecessary force was used.
Questions: Who will investigate the actions of the police in dispersing the crowd to determine whether excessive force was used? Who was responsible for assuring that the Police would use the minimum force needed to handle the situation and who made the decision to use more than the minimum required? How will police officers found to have used excessive force be disciplined? What is the punishment?
Billy King | 11.15.07 - 1:05 pm | #
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"Jeremy Pawloski, our criminal justice reporter, said: "One officer in riot gear took a swing at me Saturday, but he missed. Later, the officer came over and apologized, telling me he didn't know I was a reporter. I was to the side of the officers, trying to get a better vantage point, and he may have thought I was a protester trying to flank him. I was not assaulted."


So the way to avoid being "swung at" by a police officer is to convince him you are with the media.

I'm not sure how that one works. It appears that Jeremy was free game when the police just thought he was any old Joe on the street. So that means, if I happen to be walking along that area at the wrong time, I'm dogmeat unless I show my press credentials.

Sorry, that doesn't sound like "innocent until proven guilty" to me.
Anonymous | 11.15.07 - 1:02 pm | #
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J,
PMR should be classified as a domestic terrorist group, since you are the ones sponsoring these protests with the close watchful eye of "uncle TJ", if you were truly what you're proclaiming peaceful then you would cease all activities and turn over to the police the names of the anarchists. Protesting is fine this anarchy isn't. it is domestic terrorism
Robert | 11.15.07 - 11:56 am | #
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thank you for enlightening me medic about your qualifications, though i feel bad your part of the problem, a domestic terrorist organization
Robert | 11.15.07 - 11:44 am | #
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i find it interesting how the domestic terrorists will follow international law when its conveinent, the geneva convention when its conveinent, the Constitution of America when its conveinent, and Anarchists manual of stupidity when its conveinent, but expect the police to do nothing. and they cry BOO HOO HOO when they get a little CS sprayed on them to keep them out of the road.
so domestic terrorists are you in a war now? if so, then the rules of war apply to you and you should be treated as such. POWs have much different rights vs a criminal.
Robert | 11.15.07 - 11:38 am | #
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Robert:

I have Red Cross certification in Emergency Response (40 hrs), NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute certification as a Wilderness First Responder (80 hrs), CPR for the Professional Rescuer, as well as training specifically in street medicine, chemical weapons, aftercare, etc. I am also trained in Search and Rescue, and participated in an active SAR team in New Mexico for two years. Every other medic on the scene had varying degrees of conventional medical training (from Wilderness First Aid to EMT-Basic to Wilderness EMT) and a great deal of experience in street medicine
medic | 11.15.07 - 11:36 am | #
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I will speak for PMR when i say that I have been at the organizing meetings and we have never, EVER condoned threats of any kind toward anyone. We condone nonviolent methods. At a direct protest - direct meaning directly getting involved in something, like blocking military vehicles - people will see what is happening and get very excited, and not all of these people will know what is the responsible way of acting. We in PMR are not coldblooded criminals, we are a diverse group of people who want to stop the killing and senseless bloodshed and profit of this war. We have tried doing it through our politicians and it has not worked. We want the violence to stop.... And I do apologize that some people have broken windows and done other violent things, because that is very unproductive and unfortunate, but these individuals were acting on their own accord and there is no reason PMR should be assumed to have incited violence.

Come to our democratic planning meetings if you don't believe me. We have them everyday, somewhere in downtown Olympia in the evening. The location changes each time... But if you go to a protest and ask you are sure to find out where it is that night.
J | 11.15.07 - 11:33 am | #
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Wow quite the verbal gymnastics employed in this piece in order to condone indiscriminate police violence. If the police use excessive force on non-violent protesters, reporters or whomever, that constitutes an attack. The videographer was shot in the face by police, but that was some how not the fault of police? Wow, so the O thinks we should hold protesters accountable, but not police? How dishonest and irresponsible, but that's editors for you. After all it took them til this July to figure out the war was crap.

"An out of control crowd is a scary thing" Were the crowds "out of control" before they were peppersprayed and shot at?

It's wrong when the Olympian editorial staff chooses to minimize the attacks on it's employees, to provide cover for police brutality. The truth will come to light.
televiseus | 11.15.07 - 11:30 am | #
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Medic,
what kind of training did you get to be a "Street medic?
Robert | 11.15.07 - 11:28 am | #
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What this article neglects to mention is that it was the PROTESTERS, not the police or the medics, who provided care for the reporters after they were attacked by the police. As a street medic, I remember distinctly irrigating the eyes of one photographer on the scene Saturday morning who was suffering the effects of pepper spray, treating him and giving him advice for after-care. He seemed grateful enough at the time to receive help while the paramedics stood by and did noting. I would appreciate it if some of that gratitude were expressed in the news coverage as well, instead of being conveniently left out. To misrepresent the events is one thing; to take advantage of the kindness of strangers and then to dismiss them all as violent youth is quite another.

For the record, if the photographer in question should see this, I'm the medic with the red dreadlocks and the medic vest, and despite the slander here I hope that you've recovered from the effects of the pepper spray. As a street medic who is sworn to do no harm and to treat everyone without discrimination, I will treat you and anyone else again even if you choose to disregard it and slander me. Keep hydrating at the moment to flush all of the chemicals out of your system; pepper spray is nasty stuff, banned by international treaty in warfare.
medic | 11.15.07 - 11:21 am | #
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the names of the protesters arrested were printed in the news stand edittion. seems most are from oly, there goes the theory that they were from oregon. it is homegrown crazies, not imported ones. if you don't want to be pepper sprayed, or arrested protest bush, not some truck driver trying to make a living and feed his family.
deb | 11.15.07 - 11:06 am | #
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Olympian,
So was it the anti-war or pro-war folks threatening you?

You gotta share that information. Otherwise you are saying it was the anti-war protesters.

So which side were they on? This needs to be cleared up.
EG | 11.15.07 - 10:55 am | #
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Just to make this clear. Was Tony being surrounded by the Pro-war group and threatened? This information is very important in painting a clear picture of who was being verbally and physically aggressive. The pro-war group and their kids were making physical threats at many of the anti-war people. These people even had their kids yelling threats at people who were just standing around calmly.
I think it is important to state who this group was. Hey it may have been the anti-war group. But by not saying, anyone who reads this will think that it was. If it wasn't you have an obligation to say so.
Thanks.
lfd | 11.15.07 - 10:52 am | #
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To all those critical of the Oly PMR “protesters”:

These things are not going to change until you take ACTION! Writing comments on this blog is not going to do a thing. You need to get up and commit yourselves to getting to the Olympia City Council meetings and making yourself heard. The reason that these PMR “protesters” get away with so much is that they are the POLITICALLY ACTIVE ones. Every single citizen that is complaining about the criminal actions of the PRM “protesters” needs to attend the next Olympia City Council meeting. The next meeting is at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 20th. There is a sign-in sheet for public comments right at the entrance to the council hall. Sign up and make your voice heard. That’s what these Olympia/TESC leftists do.

The Olympia City Council meets on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 900 Plum Street, unless otherwise noticed. Public Communication up to 30 minutes is scheduled at the beginning of City Council weekly meetings. Comments are usually limited to three minutes per person. The Council's practice is to wait until everyone has spoken before considering whether or not to respond to individual comments. The Council may, at its discretion, schedule additional time at the end of the meeting for public comment.

Every time someone tells me how irritated they are with these PMR characters, my response now is “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?”

So, to all of you venting about the PMR criminals: WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT ???????
.
.
JeffB | 11.15.07 - 10:34 am | #
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I'm with MightyDawg: The protesters do not speak for all of us who oppose this insane pack of lies Bush calls a war on terror. How dare they call themselves pro peace. They are nothing but a bunch of misguided hoodlums who must be heald accountable. They are no better than Bush and Co.
Karl | 11.15.07 - 10:05 am | #
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The protesters say one thing (check out http://www.omjp.org/ PMRNonViolen...olenceFeb07.txt for Port Militarization Resistance Code/Statement of Non-Violence), yet the evidence (this article, my person experience, broken windows, dumpsters in the road, blocking traffic) prove another.

They refuse to accept responsibility for their actions or the people associated with their group.

I would like to see the names of the people arrested and where they are registered to vote.

The State capital is just down the road if you wish to protest. The port authority can’t bring the troops home or stop the war.

Stop supporting this group of insurgents. When they change their methods, self police themselves, and peaceable assemble, they will be a much more potent force.
go.opd | 11.15.07 - 9:56 am | #
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Ms. Kilgore presents a fairly balanced editorial (or is this news?), but she forgets the responsibility her newspaper has in fueling the fires over the past couple of weeks. If her reporters were in danger, partial blame for that goes to the manner in which the melees were reported in her newspaper and the incitement in created. Either intentionally or unintentionally, the O glorified the causes of these protesters and helped them believe they were making a statement for the whole country. The O helped set the stage for all this, and now they want to back off a bit.
Retired NCO | 11.15.07 - 8:45 am | #
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I've been reading many comments and am left with one question.

Why would you try to take by force that which is allowable by other means? In other words, why would you try to force your opinion on others by these acts when you have other means to convince us of your side?

In this country it still is up to majority rule. If you try to make your point this way, you lose your chance to convince a huge number of us. Better to try reason, facts, not violence. Violence only begets violence. Taking away the right of the military and private business from being able to quietly, peacefully go about their business is not the way to make your point.

I'm saddened by both sides that suggest violence as the answer. I'm saddened to hear of community leaders unduly influencing these students to such hateful acts against fellow citizens.

We should feel shame as this goes into international news. We have got to look like fools even more to the world.

The last thing that saddens me is violations against citizens who have chosen to submit to a calling to fight for freedom. I don't like the thought of these young men and women to be violated for that choice.
anony | 11.15.07 - 8:42 am | #
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Puzzled makes an excellent point. The Olympian is taunting less intellectually capable (conservative) members of our community, and pushing them to become vigilantes. Can we blame the Olympian for crimes against true-blue Americans who aren't afraid to fight for their rights or their tax dollars? Let's use Mr. Pawloski's logic here: The Olympian is at fault for stoking the fire, and Police taunting made violence happen so it's not the protesters fault. I guess that would kind of mean he deserved what he got, right?
C | 11.15.07 - 8:02 am | #
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Someone please explain why it's acceptable for an officer of the law to take a swing at a peaceful protester, but not at a peaceful reporter? It wounds to me like the olympian's criminal justice reporter could examine this criminal act in more depth.

Furthermore, anti-war demonstrators were being taunted and egged on by pro-war demonstrators. Why is taunting only confronted when it happens to be an inconvenience for Mr. Pawloski?
C | 11.15.07 - 7:58 am | #
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And check it out... you're inciting violence yourself, Olympian! Check out some of these responses... they're ready to teach the protesters a lesson. What a load of hypocritical lies. What a joke of a paper. This town deserves better.
Puzzled | 11.15.07 - 7:38 am | #
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What a load of crap. The police assault the Olympian staff, and this is your spin on it? What a joke. This paper is not unbiased. Clearly, quite the opposite. I talked to one of your staffers, and it didn't go down the way you just described. This paper is a bunch of lies.
Puzzled | 11.15.07 - 7:36 am | #
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Dear "Protesters",

Google or Wiki "useful idiot" and "brown shirts" and then go look in the mirror. You are not the "free, independent thinkers" you profess to be. You are marionettes that are manipulated with so much ease.
Brett | 11.15.07 - 7:14 am | #
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Yes, who were "these men in positions of influence in this community"????
Gerry | 11.15.07 - 7:01 am | #
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The older I get, the more I see just how stupid people can be, the more I understand why cranky old folks "act conservative"

They're liars, they're vandals, they're criminals, and I thank God I had enough common sense not to be part of them. They damaged nothing but a couple windows and the reputations of ALL who are against the war, even those of us with a few brain cells.
Merwyn | 11.15.07 - 7:00 am | #
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This article exposes these protesters for who they really are - hoodlums. Their goal was to incite violence, not promote peace.

As someone who vehemently opposes the Iraq war, I am ashamed to have these kinds of people on my side of this conflict.
Mighty Dawg | 11.15.07 - 5:57 am | #
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Let's go for 500 today folks.
I know you all can do it on this one.
Bill | 11.15.07 - 5:51 am | #
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Way to go daily O.

Notice the Peacenicks made him feel endangered while the police did not. Thanks for the story. Thanks for covering it. Way to go staff. You put yourselves out there to get the story.
A Bob | 11.15.07 - 5:49 am | #
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THANK YOU OLYMPIAN FOR SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT!!! Olympian reporters and OPD are to be commended for their fine work.

Shame on the "adults" stirring up the crowd - particularly the Evergreen professors who have been in the middle of it.

This confirms what many of us on this blog have suspected.
Karen | 11.15.07 - 4:52 am | #
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Yet the other news show a "cry" girl "sniffle" talking about "sob" not getting "bo-ho" medical attention "wha" for 20 minutes. "cry-cry".

They didn't show the harrassment that was going on to the average citizen that was down there. They didn't show these thugs getting in people's faces. Actually, it's good it did happen to the Olympian, that way they can have a actual report for once.

It however took a camera man to do it for them.
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David Olympia | 11.15.07 - 4:30 am | #
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QUOTE FROM THE OLYMPIAN

"Let me make something perfectly clear: The Olympian's newsroom staff did not get attacked by police when they were at the scene covering the recent port protests.

However, photographer Tony Overman was threatened by protesters and felt endangered to the point of calling 9-1-1 for assistance.

There is much misinformation on this topic in community blogs and conversation."

good showing protesters, you show your stupidity again. does`nt take much to do that. dumbasses!!!
scooter | 11.15.07 - 3:51 am | #
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I for one would like to know who "these men in positions of influence in this community" were so that I could 'pay' my respects to them with a 'get out of office vote' or take my shopping somewhere else
John | 11.15.07 - 2:59 am | #
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