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If you’ve got a bike and a resolve to make a dent in the pockets of the 1%, then join the bike swarm on Monday, 12/12.
Visit their website: PDXbikeswarm.org
The Bike Swarm came together in solidarity to stand (ride) with Occupiers during the Nov. 13th 1st-amendment-rights-violating eviction of Occupy Portland from Lownsdale and Chapman Squares. Bravely, the Bike Swarm circled all night and morning to protect the protestors. They were also a participating presence on N17, the day of action against the banks. They rode with us on Dec 3rd, when we re-occupied Shemansky Park. And they continue to support the Occupy Movement by riding beside us on 12/12.
OCCUPY PORTLAND TARGETS
“WALL STREET ON THE WATERFRONT”
The 99% will shut down West Coast ports on December 12th
Occupy Portland has joined with other occupy movements in the largest West Coast port cities to organize mass mobilizations and community pickets to blockade the ports on December 12, 2011. A community blockade at the Port of Portland, publicly-owned space, will disrupt business-as-usual for what organizers have termed “Wall Street on the Waterfront.”
Organizers say the shutdown will focus public attention on how the 1% use the ports, international trade, and even the spirit of Christmas to profit off the 99%.
“One way that the 1% amasses wealth is through the ports. For instance, Wall Street firm Goldman Sachs is a majority share of Stevedore Services of America (SSA), which has terminals & does business at the Port of Portland,” says Kari Koch, one of the organizers, “Shut Down Wall Street on the Waterfront is a coordinated effort from the occupy movement to target the corporations that contribute to the vast inequality of wealth and power in our economic system.”
Portland will shut down the ports to show solidarity with longshore workers facing a vicious union-busting attack by the EGT grain conglomerate in Longview, Washington. Bunge Ltd is the largest partner in ETG and reported $2.5 billion in profit in 2010. The labor dispute in Longview involves EGT violating the union contract and bringing in non-ILWU workers on the ports.
“The rank and file of the labor movement not only supports the occupy movement, but are a part of the occupy movement. Organized and unorganized working people are struggling to keep their homes and their jobs, while the 1% – like EGT – reaps record profits,” says Kathryn Cates, one of the organizers, “Because the holiday season has been exploited by the 1% to make money off working people, December is a peak business time for the ports and the wealthiest corporations. On December 12 we will show that the holidays are about family & community not profits and exploitation.”
The longshoreman’s union, representing many port workers, has historically not crossed picket lines, community or otherwise.
As of December 5th, nine West Coast occupations have responded to the call to shut down Wall Street on the Waterfront, including Occupy LA/Long Beach, Occupy San Diego, Occupy Tacoma, Occupy Seattle, Occupy Anchorage and Occupy Oakland.
West Coast Shutdown Announcement video can be found here,and more info found at shutdowntheport.com.
This action was approved by the Occupy Portland General Assembly on November 26, 2011