September 2007

by Drew Hendricks

Violence, as a tactic, works.

I know that this axiom makes most people uncomfortable, especially those of us against war. But it is obvious to any reader of history that violence has made the world we live in today. It has shaped our nation states, our ethnicities, our graveyards, our economy and our languages. Even when we challenge each others’ actions on our listservs, our arguments quickly dichotomize.

July 2007

by Drew Hendricks

On June 6, Intercity Transit's board (known as the IT Authority) took the decision to spend $667,500 to buy closed circuit television cameras to monitor their buses. The system will be purchased from a company called Verint Systems Inc, which is a US intelligence industry contractor.

June 2007

by Drew Hendricks and DJ Megawatti

Free Radio Olympia (FRO) ceased transmitting its signal over the airwaves on May 22nd to avoid a probable raid by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The interruption of our service to the community will last until a new volunteer steps forward to host our transmitter, accepting the risk of a raid or FCC visit.

Recent FCC harassment has escalated significantly, both statewide and nationwide. The FCC has also

recently harassed two other unlicensed stations in Washington State, according to DIY Media's FCC

February 2007

by Drew Hendricks

Many people in our community oppose the war in Iraq. And while I often agree with my community on issues of war and peace, in this instance I disagree. I do not oppose the war in Iraq.

I don't think that the United States should have any troops stationed anywhere outside the United States. I'm against the Empire. But what those troops are doing in Iraq is not a war -- it's an occupation. It's the colonial administration of another nation, and the suppression of the people of that nation. It's a war crime, and I oppose it. But the war isn't being fought by the US military. The . . .

December 2006

by Drew Hendricks

The Olympia City Council passed the amendments to the Sidewalk Ordinance Tuesday, Nov. 28, with Councilmember TJ Johnson voting against, and Councilmember Doug Mah absent.

Councilmember Laura Ware tacked on three amendments, setting an expiration for the ordinance on Dec. 15, 2007, pending renewal; allowing an exception for sitting or lying down in doorways between 10 pm and 7 am; and allowing "busking" (street performance) within designated areas, with a permit. Ware also secured a guarantee from the City Council to spend $200,000 to "fill gaps in services" to the homeless and . . .

November 2006

by Drew Hendricks

The case against antiwar protesters arrested at the Port of Olympia just might get thrown out of court.

Paul Lower, an Olympia Police Detective, was at the main gate of the Port's marine terminal in downtown Olympia on May 30. Several dozen protesters gathered there on that day to oppose the use of our property to support the occupation of Iraq. Detective Lower was shooting videotape during the arrests of several protesters, according to eyewitnesses, photographs, and court documents. He then destroyed the videotape he shot, on or about July 30, according to his account. . . .

March 2006

by Drew Hendricks

I believe that a spider I pick up has the right to bite me if I start to crush her, or if she thinks I might want to do her harm. I believe that I have that same right if someone is attacking me, or attacking my community.

I understand that some want to undertake a dharma that involves much more sacrifice than my own path, and stake out a "moral high ground." I leave these people to do what they do. I have my own path, and I think it is important to share that with you. It differs from many of you, and you will better understand me, and understand my tactics, if you . . .

March 2006

Compiled and edited by Drew Hendricks

Olympia has one of the richest media environments of any small community in the United States. The latest addition to the constellation of self-publishing web sites is known as Olyblog.net. Here's their blurb, in their own words: About OlyBlog.net

OlyBlog is a site for news and discussion specifically about Olympia, Washington. OlyBlog was founded by Rick McKinnon, a long-time OlyWa resident.

February 2006

by Drew Hendricks

A lot of criticism has been committed to print since it was revealed that President Bush authorized warrantless wiretaps on United States citizens. Many Senators and legal experts have taken issue with the President's explanation that the targets of these warrantless wiretaps are terror suspects speaking with persons outside the United States. These Senators and experts point out that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court was established for just such a purpose, and has only denied a handful of requests in the two and a half decades of its existence. But their shock and . . .

September 2005

by Drew Hendricks

Olympia Police Officer Mel Jetter was almost fired in November of 2002. Two of his peers, officers who were responsible for evaluating his behavior as an officer, recommended that he be terminated. Commander Steve Nelson and Chief Gary Michel decided instead to give him 15 days off without pay. The chief asked Mel to write a paper, entitled "The Role of Ethical Conduct in Law Enforcement," because (Chief's words) "ethical behavior is not learned in training." The chief gave Mel five weeks to write this paper, and let Mel choose the length of the report.

August 2005

by Drew Hendricks

Each year, the City of Olympia spends around ten million dollars on Police, Crime Prevention, and the City's Jail. In contrast, the budget for the City Council's Police Auditor is just $20,000 per year, and that paltry amount of money is usually not all spent by the time the budget rolls over into the next year.

July 2005

by Drew Hendricks

On May 11, 2005 the US Naval Vessel Pililaau prepared to leave the Port of Olympia's marine terminal. Before 7:30 pm, the ship had already discharged a very large quantity of water from above its Port side waterline, out into Budd Inlet. A jet of white foam could be seen extending well into the navigation channel as the water was stirred with the discharge from the ship's bowels. Near the guest moorage south of the ship, a large quantity of floating, greenish brown material spread out on the water in a sheet hundreds of feet across. The constellation of floating debris drifted . . .

July 2005

by Drew Hendricks

Olympia Police used force on 43 occasions in the first four months of 2005, but only used TASERS in four cases of the 27 times force was reported used in February through April 2005. This is a drop from the previous monthly average of 4.5 TASER uses per month seen in the previous two years.

June 2005

by Drew Hendricks

The Olympia City Council's General Government Committee met on Monday, May 16th to review the city's police accountability system and consider changes to its structure and goals. No decisions were taken at the meeting, which began at 11:30 AM on a Monday. The next scheduled General Government Committee meeting is set for June 6th, 2005 at 11:30 AM, again on a Monday. The agenda for that meeting had not yet been posted to the City's web site as of press time.

That web site address is: http://www.ci.olympia.wa.us/council/minutes/default.asp

April 2005

by Drew Hendricks

On March 24, the Green Party of South Puget Sound decided to petition the Port of Olympia Commissioners to change the name of our Port to "Peace Port of Thurston County."

We would rather run a candidate for one or both of the seats up for election this Fall, but we could find no candidate after three months of trying to identify someone within the districts up for election. Instead, the name change campaign is our backup plan of action against the militarization of the Port.

March 2005

by Drew Hendricks

The strike was not over, but Pizza Time's employees were absent from the picket line over the weekend of February 18th. Pizza Time at Old Towne's owner, Richard J Kelley, arrived downtown Friday at 9pm to find that his partner Shane Bloking had locked the doors at 6pm and disappeared. When Mr Kelley arrived, the "open" sign was still brightly lit and phone calls were being answered by a message that the phone line's mailbox was not properly configured. The doors to the store were locked.

July 2003

by Drew Hendricks

On June 2nd, around 700 people gathered in Westlake Center to protest the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit, which held a conference in Seattle for the week of June 2-6th 2003. In response to the published plans for the protest, the Seattle Police Department mobilized 120 riot police in full armor, some armed with AR-15 assault rifles. In addition to the armored police, Seattle PD deployed approximately 65 bicycle police, four horsemen, several vans, and an undetermined number of undercover police officers within the march itself. The overwhelming amount of force shown on the . . .

July 2003

by Drew Hendricks

Police arrested 12 people, injuring several seriously, after a peaceful march June 2nd against the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit (LEIU) convention Seattle. Some of the people arrested live in Olympia and are requesting help finding video of their arrests.

Laurel Smith, a union shop steward and activist, who is also a former Evergreen student, was diagnosed by Capital Medical Center staff as having multiple head injuries sustained after police officers slammed her head into the pavement at 5th and Union four or more times. She momentarily lost consciousness during the arrest . . .

July 2003

by Drew Hendricks

The people who handled registration for the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit (LEIU) conference in Seattle in early June were Washington State Patrol personnel who live in Olympia and Lacey. Michelle L Hahn works for the Washington State Patrol Criminal Intelligence Unit and was listed as contact for persons interested in registering for the conference. The published phone number and PO Box for LEIU registration belong to the WSP. LEIU, supposedly a private corporation, was not found to be registered as such in California, Oregon, Washington, or New York.

June 2003

by Drew Hendricks, Olympia Copwatch

On June first, people will gather in Seattle to begin to learn about and discuss the Law Enforcement Intelligence Unit. On June 2, they will seek to shut it down.

Some writers question whether the concern is warranted; a column in The Stranger (Vol 12 No. 35) suggested that the activist community has lost touch with the LEIU's current history and is planning a protest for unclear reasons, against a misunderstood foe. The columnist's confusion is understandable, since the LEIU has no web site of its own and does not appear to have an office or published phone . . .

June 2003

by Drew Hendricks, Olympia Copwatch

The victim, who requested anonymity for this report, was taken into custody in the early morning hours after Cinco De Mayo, and booked into jail two and one half hours after his reported arrest.

Detective Donald S Heinze and Patrol Officer Charles G Porche Jr took the man into custody for malicious mischief, according to their report. The man verbally resisted according to the report and witnesses at the scene.