Olympia Rail Blockade Negotiations Underway, Law Enforcement Meet at Port

Above: The Olympia rail blockade of Union Pacific tracks, as seen Thursday morning, started last Friday afternoon. Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita, City of Olympia councilmember Nathaniel Jones, and members of Olympia Stand met on Wednesday to discuss a peaceful resolution.

Law Enforcement Meeting Held At Port Office

State Legislator Writes “Economic Terrorism” Bill 

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

The rail blockade of a Union Pacific train currently on Port of Olympia property in downtown Olympia continued into its seventh evening on Thursday. 

The train tried to leave last Friday with a shipment of ceramic proppants destined for North Dakota, to be used in hydraulic fracking.

The Olympia Stand blockade may be the longest disruption of a fossil fuel industry shipment in state history.

Negotiations to peacefully end the rail blockade are underway, but time may be running out for protesters. 

On Thursday afternoon, a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement meeting was held at port administrative offices. About 20 officers were present. No port personnel was present, nor allowed at the meeting.

Port of Olympia Commissioner E.J. Zita issued a statement to media Thursday evening:

“Yesterday, people from Olympia Stand met with liaisons from the City of Olympia (Nathaniel Jones) and the Port of Olympia (myself). We discussed how we could work together toward a peaceful resolution of the fracking train blockade. My top priority is the safety of everyone involved, and I think Nathaniel agrees. I will not presume to speak for Olympia Stand or the Port of Olympia.

Councilmember Jones has proposed a way forward, which Olympia Stand may consider, and which Port Commissioners need to discuss.

The soonest that the three Port Commissioners can meet to discuss this is next Monday, due to travel and family commitments. Port Commissioners are then scheduled to discuss cooperating with the City's proposal for a peaceful resolution.

Meanwhile, I hope that no law enforcement action will be taken against Olympia Stand.”

Zita told Little Hollywood Thursday evening that she chanced upon the meeting, and was nicely, but firmly escorted out. She said she has no information about law enforcement plans.

“Economic Terrorism” Bill Proposed

Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen, a Republican legislator from the 42nd District representing Whatcom County, issued a press release Wednesday saying he has prepared a bill for next year’s legislative session that would create a new crime of “economic terrorism.”

Ericksen says Washington needs to take a firm stand against illegal protests that block transportation and commerce, cause property damage, threaten jobs and put public safety at risk. 

Whatcom County has seen its own share of recent blockades and protests. 

Over 150 activists blocked an oil train in Anacortes in May as part of the Break Free coalition, and in August, a BNSF coal train was blocked by Deep Green Resistance Seattle members for 12 hours. 

According to the Bellingham Herald, trains were delayed three hours on Tuesday by Bellingham protesters, who left at sundown. The newspaper reported that officers in riot gear used pepper spray and in one instance, a stun gun was used against protesters who refused to leave.

“I haven’t seen Senator Ericksen’s proposed language but it appears that he lacks a basic understanding of the First Amendment and the role of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly in an open and democratic society,” Neil M. Fox, National Lawyers Guild of Seattle, told Little Hollywood Thursday evening. 

“Senator Ericksen’s suggested legislation makes me fear what is coming down the road once Donald Trump becomes president,” he added. 

The bill would create a class C felony when protests aimed at causing economic disruption jeopardize human life and property. It would not apply in cases of lawful and protected activities, such as strikes and picketing.

The penalties would apply not just to participants but also to those who fund, organize, sponsor or otherwise encourage others to commit acts of economic terrorism. Accomplices may be required to pay restitution up to triple the amount of economic damage.

The actual bill language is not posted on Ericksen’s website. Ericksen is chair of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.

For more photos and information about the Olympia rail blockade, the Port of Olympia, ceramic proppants, and more, go to http://janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com and type key words into the search button.

Olympia Rail Protesters Given Notice to Vacate, Port Commissioners Respond

Above: Community activists, collectively called Olympia Stand, continues its blockade of Union Pacific Railroad tracks in its effort to halt the transfer of ceramic proppants from the Port of Olympia to North Dakota, where the product will be used in hydraulic fracking process to allow for oil extraction.

Port Commissioners Downing, Zita Make Statements about Blockade at meeting Monday night

By Janine Gates

www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com

At about 8:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, two Union Pacific Railroad Company police served notice on blockade participants to vacate the railroad at 7^th and Jefferson in downtown Olympia.

The notice of emergency abatement placed on the blockade site states to vacate the property or risk criminal trespass in the second degree.

The notice is partially handwritten, saying that further violations exceeding the notice are subject to violations. The term “ORS.164.255” is crossed out, which would be a first degree violation, and “second degree” is written in.

“The nuisances on this property include illegal camping, debris, scattering of rubbish, harborage for rats, unclean and unsanitary conditions, and therefore violates the property rights of the Union Pacific Railroad,” it states in part.

The notice does not give a time or date that trespassers must vacate the property.

Two members of the National Lawyers Guild arrived about 9:00 a.m. and identified themselves to Little Hollywood as observers.

At the same time, while standing outside the encampment, a white truck with two men inside drove by yelling, “Trump!” “Trump!” “Trump!”

Above: A Union Pacific Railroad notice of emergency abatement placed Tuesday morning at the railroad blockade site at 7^th and Jefferson in downtown Olympia. The notice states that it is a notice to vacate the property or risk criminal trespass in the second degree.

Protesters, collectively called Olympia Stand, have maintained its direct action blockade of the railroad tracks since Friday afternoon. 

On Friday, a train hauling several cars of ceramic proppants was forced to return to the Port of Olympia’s marine terminal after being blocked by protesters at the intersection of State and Jefferson Street.

City of Olympia city manager Steve Hall was at the camp Tuesday morning on his way to work and got there just in time to see the railroad police put up the notices.

“I just hope there’s a peaceful end to this – I hope people don’t get in trouble at a higher level while being heard," said Hall. Hall said he spoke to the railroad police, who were vague about whether or not it was a felony to block a train.

“I’m hoping this is handled the Olympia way and people don’t get hurt,” said Hall.

Protesters have visually fortified their barricade at 7^th and Jefferson with white plastic sheeting, but blockade activities can clearly be seen from Jefferson Street.

At last night’s Port of Olympia meeting, about 17 activists, in addition to those in the audience, peacefully showed up to make their presence known to the commissioners and stood in the back of the room during the public comment period.

Several spoke directly to the Port’s complicity in the degradation of the environment by accepting the ceramic proppant shipments from China and allowing transport to North Dakota to be used in the process of hydraulic fracking.

Zoltan Grossman, a professor at The Evergreen State College, urged commissioners to be on the right side of history.

A student of The Evergreen State College, Colleen Allen, said that many students care about their future.

“We care about the future – all we ask is that you care about our future too,” she said.

Above, left to right: Port of Olympia commissioners Joe Downing, Bill McGregor, and E.J. Zita at their regular meeting on Monday evening.

The commissioners briefly responded to public concerns, but did not dwell on the topic.

Commissioner Joe Downing responded by saying that he did not vote for Donald Trump and has had a sign on his car in support of Hillary Clinton for a couple months.

“I’m choked up, because things are going to get tough and I’m just seeing the handwriting on the wall….”

How that relates to fracking, he said, is that the community has to continue to have a dialog about energy production and port priorities. He said he has spoken directly with protesters and doesn’t personally see a connection between that conversation and the port's shipping of proppants to North Dakota.

“We need to have rail car safety…I don’t agree with blocking trains.…Make your voices known, and move on to the next issue, frankly,” said Downing.

In a statement provided to Little Hollywood on Monday, Commissioner E.J. Zita said:

“I asked last month to be informed of any movements of fracking proppants at the Port, but was surprised to learn of events last week.  I commend the Olympia Police Department for their hands-off response to peaceful protest.  Public safety and freedom of speech are high priorities. 

“Port Commissioners are responsible for setting port policy, and the executive director is responsible for carrying out that policy.  While the executive director may have played a key role in securing the Rainbow Ceramics contract to move fracking proppants through the Port, future decisions on this matter rest with commissioners.  We must weigh risks and benefits to people and the environment as well as to economics.

“The Port's Environmental Director has recently undertaken an assessment of our direct (Scope 1) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  I recommend that we also evaluate the indirect (Scope 2 and Scope 3) GHG emissions due to fracking proppants moving through the Port,” said Zita.

For more photos and information about the rail blockade, the Port of Olympia, ceramic proppants, and more, go to Little Hollywood, www.janineslittlehollywood.blogspot.com, and type key words into the search button.