14th October 2011

Post

Longview Strikers Plan to #Occupy EGT and Shut Down West Coast Ports

As class conflict increases around the globe, here in Cascadia the striking Longveiw, Washington port workers and their supporters are planning an occupation of EGT’s grain terminal.

In addition to bussing and flying to Longview, all of the West Coast longshoremen will shut down the ports for the entire coast in solidarity. The #occupymovement is planned for when the next ship arrives, so follow the Twitter. When that ship sails in we will have to move quickly, strategically, purposely and with an unrelenting fury.

This occupation of the EGT grain terminal is influenced partially by direct anarchist input and influence on the social and cultural terrain, as well as by the burgeoning #occupymovement happening around North America. But in comparison to the other occupy sites springing up around the country; this is an occupation of an entirely different sort. #Occupying a port to stop the flow of capital into a multinational grain terminal to cause the corporation direct economic damage, whilst simultaneously shutting down the flow of commerce through the ports on the entire west coast of the USA in solidarity with a growing anti-capitalist/anti-authoritarian movement rooted in local non-hierarchical open assemblies, such is happening in Longview and the US right now. Don’t let it pass you by.

For those who aren’t already familiar with the Longview struggle, EGT is a multinational conglomerate made up of the three companies: Bunge, STX Pan Ocean and Itochu, who built a multi-million dollar grain terminal in the Port of Longview and decided not to hire ILWU labor and instead insisted on scabs and a foreign security team to move their product. The ILWU has held that port for a long time and in their eyes EGT’s behavior is a blatant threat that they must respond to. For the past few months the ILWU Longview port workers (together with friends, family and community support) have been engaged in one of the most radical labor disputes in recent American history, with striking workers blocking the railroad, clashing with the police, organizing rallies, sabotaging train brake cables, railroads and unlatching the bottom of grain cars for maximum economic damage. Now an occupation and a shut down of the entire west coast is on the horizon.

According to someone who was interrogated by the Department of Homeland Security, that merciless Hilary Clinton has given direct orders to the DHS to shut down the strike. They have detained, beaten, arrested and interrogated longshoremen with accusations of being “Homeland Terrorists” and threatening to try them in court as such. This clear attempt at instilling fear and paranoia to break the will power of individuals in Longview is failing, but it still must be fiercely combated.

If you plan to come and occupy the EGT grain terminal with the rest of us then follow the Twitter: @occupylongview

Remember, the cops are ruthless ego-trippers who hate freedom and will try to catch you so they can kick the crap out of you, lock you in a cage and try to make you apologize and pay them your money: so be quick on your feet, try not to get captured and have the courage needed to occupy the port. They have many cameras and a person with a gun will come to your house in the middle of the day and put you in a cage if they identify you doing anything they call “illegal”, so be smart about State security. They might gas us, so remember that a bandana with apple cider vinegar carried in a Ziploc baggy will help, gas canisters are very hot so gloves might come in “handy” when you find it hard to breathe. They might try to snatch us out of the crowd one by one or try to block our entrance, but we will overcome their attempts at controlling us. Band together and let’s storm the gates!

PS- This is a plea for #occupystl to single out the St. Louis based company Bunge in solidarity with #occupylongviewport. There is an open respect for diversity of tactics here in Longview (as have been shown by sabotage, baseball bats, joyrides, etc.) and after reading about your movement we know that you share that as well. On a related note we are moved by your call to support ALL strikers in the St. Louis area, we recognize the potential and power there and hope the rebellion grows out of its limited forms.