Protesters arrested at Longview terminal
An International Longshore and Warehouse Union protest at a new grain terminal at the Port of Longview in Washington turned violent Wednesday according to press accounts, with police using clubs and pepper spray against demonstrators.
Members of the union and their supporters blocked a train bringing grain to the new $200 million EGT terminal, and at one point “police said a throng of protesters pushed against them, forcing them to beat them away with clubs and pepper spray” according to a report in The Daily News in Longview
The report said about 400 union longshoremen blocked a train for about four hours.
An ILWU press release said “police in riot gear charged the group of peaceful protesters, which included women and children, injuring several in the process. When volunteers stood their ground, police retreated and the train was backed off.”
But the Daily News report said the “train passed through Wednesday evening after the protesters were confronted by about 50 officers in riot gear.” It said 19 persons were arrested.
The ILWU said its president, Robert McEllrath, was detained by the police but was not arrested.
'Everyone came to the tracks on their own free will to stand up for justice and protect good jobs in this community, McEllrath said. “It shouldn't be a crime to fight for good jobs in America.'
The terminal is owned and operated by EGT, a consortium of companies that includes St. Louis-based Bunge North America, Japan-based Itochu Corp. and Korean shipper Pan Ocean STX.
A federal judge in Tacoma is scheduled to rule today on whether a 10-day temporary restraining order issued last week against the longshoremen’s union, barring it from blocking access to the terminal, should be made permanent.
The International Transport Workers Federation condemned the detention Wednesday of McEllrath and ITF President Paddy Crumlin. 'EGT are playing with fire, and they know it. They need to take a big step back and think about what they are trying to force through, then see sense and talk to the ILWU about how to resolve this issue before it escalates even further. The 350,000 plus dockers in the ITF will be watching how the company treats their American colleagues and, if the company makes it necessary, will be ready to take lawful solidarity action in support of the ILWU.”