by Sandy Mayes

"Port Militarization Resistance is organized to end our community's complicity in the illegal occupation of Iraq by stopping the U.S. Military's use of the Port of Olympia."

PMR statement of purpose -- 1/21/2007

In May 2006, hundreds of US Army combat vehicles called Strykers rolled through the streets of our town and into our port for shipment to the war in Iraq. It wasn't the first time convoys of military equipment had been shipped to the war through the Port of Olympia, but never before did the cargo present such an immediate and visually graphic connection with that war.

by Janine Gates

"I swore no oath to the Commander-in-Chief, but to the Constitution," said Lt. Ehren Watada, a Fort Lewis, Washington commissioned officer, who is facing court-martial and a possible four year prison sentence for refusing to go to Iraq.

Watada spoke before a crowd of several hundred in Olympia at South Puget Sound Community College Wednesday night. Most were sympathetic with his cause and interrupted Lt. Watada several times, often with a standing ovation, during his nearly two hour speech.

Tacoma--In an unprecedented two-day Citizens' Hearing held over the weekend, more than 600 citizens joined a distinguished tribunal panel in listening to testimony about the legality of the US invasion of Iraq.

The Hearing was convened to present evidence that Lt. Ehren Watada would have presented in his February 5 court martial on the question that the military ruled barred from entry last week -- the question of the Iraq War's legality.

by Jeff Paterson

After surrendering earlier this week on subpoenas intended to force journalists to testify against Lt. Ehren Watada for his critical statements of President Bush and the Iraq War, the Army today dismissed subpoenas targeting three anti-war activists as well.

In December Olympia, Washington anti-war activist Phan Nguyen, and Veterans for Peace (VFP) Seattle Chapter organizers Tom Brookhart and Gerri Haynes were placed under order by the US Army to appear for the prosecution in the case of US v. Watada.

Activists were under order to help prosecute public speech

by Gail Johnson

Many people know that Bush and Cheney engaged in a systematic media campaign to deceive the American people and Congress about the reasons to launch a preemptive war on Iraq. Many others recognize that the President has violated numerous laws by spying on citizens without a warrant, dismissing their rights accorded to them by the Bill of Rights, and promoting torture. Some are also concerned about the President's abuse of power by using unconstitutional "signing statements," in which he signs a bill into law but then states he does not have to obey it. These are impeachable . . .

by Rochelle Gause

Prior to the Zapatista uprising, for generations, the 900,000 indigenous people of Chiapas have lived in oblivion. From the perspective of the global economy, being neither large consumers or producers, they have been ignored and simply in the way. The endless appetite of the global economy has resulted in, according to Subcomandante Marcos (leader of the Zapatista Army), "the destruction of our land, our culture, our collective way of working, the destruction of our women, the lack of appreciation for our elders, and the merchandising of our youth. All of this, including the . . .