Seattle PI reports on the result of the Port of Tacoma arrests (I didn't get charged but was arrested -- see above).TACOMA, Wash. -- Charges against 13 people who were arrested during protests against military shipments to Iraq have been dismissed because police cited a traffic law while exercising crowd control.
The ruling was made by Tacoma Municipal Court Judge Pro-Tem Karl D. Haugh in a case stemming from protests in which 37 people were arrested over several days in March as equipment from Fort Lewis was loaded onto a ship at the Port of Tacoma.
The defendants in court on Wednesday were charged with failing to obey a police officer's instructions by taking purses and backpacks into a barricaded area.
Haugh said the law on which the charges were based was concerned with traffic, while the police orders were issued for purposes of crowd control. He rejected arguments by Assistant City Attorney Charles Lee that officers were directing traffic by trying to keep streets clear for Army trucks.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420AP_WA_Port_Protest.html
There are more cases coming up in August (the 17th to be exact). Come out and support the folks who have heavier charges against them.
And here is better coverage from Mark Jensen:
http://www.ufppc.org/content/view/6481/
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