9/27/2006 9:51:00 AM Court next stop for protestors
About 200 people marched three and a half miles from H.J. Carroll Park in Port Hadlock to Indian Island on Sept. 23 as part of the Declaration of Peace campaign. This is the lead group crossing the bridge to the island. – Photo by Steve Mullensky
Perhaps the largest anti-war demonstration in Jefferson County history led to the arrest of 37 people on the charge of disorderly conduct, and those arrested may also decide to have their day in court.
Each citation comes with a $250 fine. Protest group leaders said they would consider contesting the citations in Jefferson County District Court. Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell said the protest citations would be handled like any other citation.
Those arrested - who had planned on being taken into custody at the front gate to Naval Magazine Indian Island as part of an orderly demonstration - ranged in age from teens to senior citizens.
Jefferson County Sheriff Mike Brasfield said the protestors were well organized and had approached him to present their plan prior to the arrests. In response, Brasfield ordered his entire staff on duty and asked for volunteers, bringing 22 sheriff's office personnel to Indian Island.
Additionally, the Washington State Patrol had at least seven troopers onsite, while the Navy base's regular private security detail stayed inside the gate.
Organized event
The local demonstration was part of a nationwide "Declaration of Peace" campaign to show opposition to the war in Iraq. The protest began at 7 a.m. Saturday at H.J. Carroll Park when members of Veterans for Peace began setting up "Arlington West," rows of crosses and grave markers commemorating the nearly 3,000 members of the armed services who have died in Iraq.
At least 400 people attended a rally at the Port Hadlock park and about 350 proceeded to the island, according to reports.
While many said the protest was aimed at U.S. foreign policy - particularly the war in Iraq - others said they want the Navy to stop handling depleted uranium munitions at Indian Island and keep nuclear-powered submarines away from the island, which is the military's most strategic ordnance-handling station on the West Coast. Others said they would prefer the Navy close Indian Island completely.
Indian Island has been Navy property since 1939. The island's ordnance storage, handling and transport mission evolved in the 1980s once nuclear-powered Trident submarines were based at Bangor on Hood Canal. Demonstrators picketed outside the island's gate in 1981 to protest that decision.
Protestors claim the base poses an "environmental danger" to Jefferson County and the entire Puget Sound.
More than 22 peace organizations participated Saturday, while local musicians Raven and Hawk sang, along with the Raging Grannies. People came from across Washington state.
Liz Rivera Goldstein of Port Townsend addressed the group, mentioning the doctrines of Martin Luther King Jr. and Gandhi that teach that protestors are not in a battle with law enforcement or military personnel. She said the group's presence at the U.S. Navy facility was meant to shine a light on their belief in the immorality and illegality of the Iraq war.
"We know we won't end the war this weekend, but we will send a message to our elected officials that we want the war to end, and I think our actions will encourage more people to speak out against war," Rivera Goldstein said.
Marching on
After reciting a pledge from the national Declaration of Peace to follow guidelines to remain nonviolent, the group began the nearly four-mile walk to Indian Island. Law enforcement stopped vehicle traffic as they crossed the Portage Canal Bridge.
After the group, chanting "We are war resisters" and later "we are peace promoters," sat down, Undersheriff Tim Perry told them they had 10 minutes to disperse or face arrest. After those 10 minutes passed, he asked them whether they preferred to be arrested sitting down or standing up. Most stood.
"It went great Saturday," Perry said. "We had it well planned."
Sheriff Brasfield had issued on Sept. 22 the policy under which his department would handle the non-violent protest, which included points such as "professional respect," allowing ample time for compliance before making an arrest, and using the absolute minimum force necessary.
Several arrestees thanked sheriff's deputies for the respect showed the protestors as they were taken into custody.
Undersheriff Perry said a group of people wearing bandanas over their faces appeared intent on climbing a fence and entering the Navy base, but a line of deputies prevented them.
"We never gave them the opportunity," he said, adding that those protestors were not arrested.
$250 citation
The arrestees were secured in plastic "flex cuffs" and loaded on Jefferson Transit vehicles for transportation to the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Port Hadlock, where they were each issued a $250 citation for disorderly conduct.
Two protestors walked up to the island's main gate, crossing the "blue line" onto federal property, but Sheriff Brasfield said they were issued the same citations as the other arrestees. One of them was Karma Tenzing Wangchuk of Port Townsend. Wangchuk said he did it because "it seemed appropriate to stop the war in Iraq."
Those arrested were also given a "ban and bar" letter from the Indian Island commander.
The arrestees returned to H.J. Carroll Park later that afternoon to hear an event-ending concert by Joe Breskin and David Rovics.
Sheriff Brasfield noted that Jefferson County is picking up most of the tab for monitoring the anti-war demonstration. Staffing for the event left a temporary gap in county law enforcement coverage, he said, so two Port Townsend Police Department officers were brought in to respond to county calls.
"While we would prefer not to have the drain on manpower and resources, it makes it much easier when a group is willing to share their intent in advance," Brasfield said. He added, however, that, "Even with the cooperation of demonstrators and advanced planning, it is a very expensive proposition for the taxpayers."
Brasfield said his office is still totaling overtime accrued during the protest, and while he wasn't sure Monday how much it would be, "it will be considerable."
Some of those involved with the protest - upon learning of Brasfield's remarks regarding the local law enforcement budget - responded that the war in Iraq is costing this nation millions of dollars, and ending the war would be the greatest savings in money and, more importantly, human life.
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