Activists promise that today will bring direct action to "shut down Shell" at the Port of Seattle. The oil company's mammoth drilling rig, the Polar Pioneer, is now parked at the port's Terminal 5 and is being prepped for some Obama-approved Arctic oil exploration this summer. (Read about the secret deal-making that brought the rig to Seattle right here.)
As with Saturday's Paddle in Seattle, we'll be covering today's protest live. Follow @strangerslog, @sydbrownstone, @heidigroover, @ansel, @brendankiley, Kelly O, and @AGarlandPhoto as we watch the day of direct action unfold.
Dozens of people are about to march across a bridge to "shut down" the Port's Terminal 5. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/WXriH6gtDZ
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
Not sure if there are enough police here for this #ShellNo direct action at the Port of Seattle gates. pic.twitter.com/LrXcn7kOK5
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
With elected leadership having failed us, we launch a movement of non-violent civil disobedience to say #ShellNo! https://t.co/ZkCgfpe4Te
— Kshama Sawant (@cmkshama) May 18, 2015
@cmkshama is here and ready. pic.twitter.com/fc7yiFJTSW
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
"We are going to march on the gates of Terminal 5 and have our rally there while we shut it down!" #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/wn9CTRivY2
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
Don't worry, RevCom is here. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/QRkaYKm0Zf
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
Now running through arrest procedures. Don't resist, don't consent to any searches. "You should be out by dinner time or so." #ShellNo
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
"The goal of this action is not to get arrested. The goal of this action is to stop work at Shell today." pic.twitter.com/GNmCdgQqgd
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
"We've gotta go now. We're gonna take this street."
Here we go with indigenous leaders at the front. pic.twitter.com/EbRZBDdCtb
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
Now we're marching. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/gZAa0eys1U
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
The protest taking the bridge. pic.twitter.com/4gqKgF2t3w
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
pic.twitter.com/feNGpC31K3
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
Activists march across the Spokane st. Bridge as Shells drilling rig looms in the distance. @elijsanders pic.twitter.com/SGCfBJr0uS
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) May 18, 2015
Chanting in Tagalog with the rig in the distance. pic.twitter.com/YWe7zvhPdM
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
English prof says he rarely protests. "But this is the big one." pic.twitter.com/gAtsCCknFe
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
Alex Iwasa came from CA. Is carrying a box of kitty litter as an emergency toilet for the group. pic.twitter.com/LNwOnVSI2E
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
Hearing that affinity groups who came super early to shut down the Port were met by a huge police presence, stopped and detained. #ShellNo
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
SPD's Capt. McDonaugh says police stopped three vehicles just before 6am that were blocking the entrance to Terminal 5. #ShellNo
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
Further clarification! McDonagh says they were "detained, to be identified" and warned not to block traffic. Then they drove away.
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
He refused to say if they were protesters, and says police aren't going to arrest the crowd that's here now for doing the same thing.
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
Caribou rap... pic.twitter.com/VPXAe7ykf9
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
Idea is that this is going to be a full-day party blocking workers from accessing the rig and related activities. pic.twitter.com/YN8Y16Qrae
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Emily Johnston, 350 Seattle, says plan is to hold here "as long as biologically reasonable." #shellno pic.twitter.com/wSk6zlRxqp
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Speaker says port workers are being turned away because of protesters here. #ShellNo
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
Teamwork. pic.twitter.com/7SQGB0na0f
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
1/2 People I'm speaking to expected way more numbers here. Portland Rising Tide organizer is saying that big NGOs w/ email lists didn't pump
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
2/2 direct action, but pumped kayak flotilla more.
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Cops and journos looking lethargic. Jay came from Pt Townsend: "thought there'd be way more ppl today!" pic.twitter.com/Fyt0TCnNYa
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
raging grannies helping to shut down terminal 5 with songs protesting Shell pic.twitter.com/BtUURYJqCU
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) May 18, 2015
Miriam, 71, came from IA. Says she went from "concerned citizen" to "radical" over climate in last year. pic.twitter.com/weFgXIaWrc
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
.@cmkshama calls out @MayorEdMurray for not speaking out against Shell last fall. #ShellNo https://t.co/bEAADuWTRQ
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
Activists tried to deploy a technical blockade at Terminal 5 gates earlier this morning, but police anticipated their presence. #shellno
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
The scene at the Port of Seattle's Terminal 5. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/g126LCaVEY
— Ansel (@Ansel) May 18, 2015
.@zoevirginia, one of the activists who climbed the rig, says she thinks it's a great turnout considering the risk involved. #shellno
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
She makes a good point. There are at least a couple of hundred people here and all could potentially face arrest. #shellno
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Food and DJs because "we want to be out here for the long haul. ... It's a fuckin' party." #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/KmcnrRek3S
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
Climate change-themed dubstep dancehall party. #shellno pic.twitter.com/IC1Brqc8Zz
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Imogene tells protestors call White House to express their displeasure with Obamas decision to drill in the Arctic pic.twitter.com/TMr5ETrJLM
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) May 18, 2015
Meanwhile:
City inspectors with @SeattleDPD boarded Shell’s #PolarPioneer oil rig Friday to look for possible permit violations: http://t.co/WCkUXIU1Of
— KUOW Public Radio (@KUOW) May 18, 2015
Spokescouncil just met, idea is to stay through the next shift change at 3pm and block that. #ShellNo
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Anti Shell dance party at Terminal 5 in Seattle pic.twitter.com/42DSkDfd0N
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) May 18, 2015
1/2 When asked how he'd respond to those arguing that petrol-using #ShellNo activists are hypocrites, one English prof frowned and said:
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
2/2 "We have to transition out of an oil-based society as soon as we can." Emphasis on transition.
— brendankiley (@brendankiley) May 18, 2015
The spokescouncil is meeting again, because some information has changed, Rising Tide Seattle organizer Ahmed Gaya says. #shellno
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Gaya says that blockade will be moving out soon, leaving bold and unified. Statement about what they've done today is coming soon.
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
Chill walk back. Can't help thinking: Jesus Christ, shouldn't people be angrier about this? pic.twitter.com/r1VemwaSA8
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
"We'll be back." #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/7CerOdHQQ3
— Heidi Groover (@heidigroover) May 18, 2015
"Just to clarify, we're closing today, not the movement." Now crowd's shouting, "we'll be back!" pic.twitter.com/DcHHAtP806
— Sydney Brownstone (@sydbrownstone) May 18, 2015
And if you're having a hard time visualizing where, exactly, this protest took place: here!
