Olympia council crowd applauds anti-war acts
By Christian Hill
The Olympian
07 June 06, A1
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OLYMPIA -- Anti-war sentiments inflamed by last week's port protests drew
more than 200 people for more than three hours of spirited testimony
before the Olympia City Council on Tuesday.

Dozens of speakers expressed opposition to the war in Iraq and military
shipments out of the Port of Olympia, and support for the city's
nuclear-free ordinance and the presence of two Olympia City Council
members at the protests.

"These are not usual items for a City Council's agenda," noted Gail
Johnson of Olympia. "But then, these are not usual times."

More than 50 people signed up to testify during the public comment
period and, at its beginning, fire officials turned away more than 30
because the building had reached capacity.

It was the first meeting of the City Council since the most intense of
the confrontations between police and protesters led to 22 arrests at
the port.

The speakers were nearly unified in their opposition to the war and
praise for the civil disobedience of protesters.

"If we don't stand up against this illegal and unjust war, we are guilty
for silently letting it happen," said Barbara Bradshaw of Olympia.

There was one exception.

"The mob of rioters that were at the port" and the actions of Councilman
TJ Johnson at the protests brought shame, embarrassment and disgrace to
the capital city, Jeff Brigham of Tumwater said, and weren't
representative of the community's beliefs on the issue of military
shipments.

Both port commissioners who approved resuming military shipments were
re-elected recently, he noted.

"That is how you tell the community supports military shipments thorough
the Port of Olympia," he said.

Teresa LaBouff of Olympia urged protesters to use caution.

Her 36-year-old brother, Army Maj. Douglas LaBouff, was one of 10
soldiers and five Marines killed in a helicopter crash near Tal Afar,
Iraq, earlier this year.

One of LaBouff's friends read a letter from the mayor of Tal Afar
praising the work of the soldiers in freeing the city from the
insurgents who went so far as to place explosives in dead Iraqi children
to kill their grieving parents.

"Don't feed the terrorists," LaBouff said. "Don't give them any glory."

Many speakers voiced their support for Johnson, who was an observer
during the port protests but faced off with police after he witnessed an
incident between a protester and state trooper.

"I really appreciate having an elected official lending his voice to the
people," said Nikki Miller of Rochester. "That's what democracy is all
about."

Johnson was greeted by loud applause and cheers from members of the
crowd when he arrived at the meeting. After the testimony ended at 10:30
p.m., he explained in detail his experiences at the protests and
received a standing ovation from those left.

Carrie Lybecker of Olympia noted that one port commissioner had
expressed surprise at the intensity of the protests despite months of
significant and well publicized opposition.

The protesters and their efforts to end military shipments from the Port
of Olympia will not be deterred, she said.

"We are not going to confine ourselves to holding hands, singing
'Kumbaya,' not as long as our port is used to support war and destruction."

"There will be a next time."

/Christian Hill covers the city of Lacey and the military for The
Olympian. He can be reached at 360-754-5427 or chill@theolympian.com./

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