Activists and community members spent hours in the sun preventing workers from entering the Port of Seattle to unload the Zim container ship, Chicago. Police eventually moved protestors back to the sidewalks to allow vehicles to pass, although demonstrators were moving in and out of traffic, once bicycle demonstrator was knocked to the ground by SPD and arrested while he was riding between the cars. The crowd was thinning at 6pm as demonstrators held a meeting to discuss future action.

From the Block The Boat Northwest website…

“

END THE SIEGE ON GAZA!

BOYCOTT, DIVESTMENT, SANCTIONS!

END U.S. SUPPORT FOR ISRAELI SETTLER-COLONIALIST GENOCIDE AND OCCUPATION!

When the “Zim Chicago” enters the Port of Tacoma on (estimated) August 22nd and the Port of Seattle on (estimated) August 25, we will conduct blockades to prevent the unloading of its cargo, starting early and lasting all day. Estimated dates of arrival are subject to change, and we will continue to give accurate updates on this website. We will also give exact meeting places for the actions in the coming days. Keep checking!

These actions are economic sanctions against Zim Shipping, Israel’s largest shipping company, in response to the current siege of Gaza and the ongoing occupation of Palestine. Any international commerce that profits Israeli companies is oppressing Palestinians. Israel could not continue its occupation and genocide without economic and military support of the United States government. To help end this oppression we must block that support in every way we can.

The toll of “Operation Protective Edge” is almost 1,900 Gazans killed (nearly all civilians), 31% of them children, and almost 10,000 injured. We must act in solidarity with those in Palestine who live under occupation and are facing down genocide. Let’s refuse to let Israeli ships use our ports! Blockade til they go away! Oakland, CA will block a Zim ship on August 16th. In Seattle we shut down the Port for a day in December of 2011 — we can do it again and again. Blockades can and must happen everywhere there is a port, as a contribution to the goal of the complete collapse of the economic base of Israeli occupation.

We can’t do this without your presence! Everyone is welcome, young and old. Bring banners, flags, flyers, sound systems, musical instruments, and your friends. If you can’t blockade, you can participate in the supporting rallies — the more people there, the safer we’ll all be.

Comments, questions, or suggestions? Want to work together? Contact blocktheboatnw@gmail.com. This website will continue to be updated.”