TACOMA: Hundreds of protesters staged a protest demonstration on Monday stressing for a ceasefire in Gaza at the Port of Tacoma where a military supply ship had recently docked, Western media reported.
Organizers of the protest while blocking road said they opposed the Israeli war in Gaza and targeted the ship, the Cape Orlando, on secrete information that it was to be loaded with arms for Israel.
Air Force Lt. Col. Bryon J. McGarry, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense in a statement confirmed that the ship is under the control of the US Navy’s Military Sealift Command and is handling the movement of US military cargo.
He said that because of operations security, DoD does not provide transit or movement details or information pertaining to the shipment embarked on vessels of this kind.
Cape Orlando drew similar protests in Oakland
Earlier on Friday Cape Orlando drew similar protests in Oakland, where it docked before it came to Tacoma. About 300 pro-Palestinian protesters delayed the departure of the vessel and the US Coast Guard took three people into custody who climbed onto the ship.
Later they were released on a bail in San Francisco. Investigations are ongoing against the three and others who had breached the federal maritime premises.
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About 200 protesters gathered at the Port of Tacoma on Monday. They were carrying signs saying “No Aid for Israel” and “Free All Palestinian Prisoners.”
Shelbie Boyd, a spokesperson for the Tacoma Police Department has said that no arrests were made in the protest.
The protesters’ blocked the Cape Orlando from being loaded. Demonstrators were saying no funding for genocide, no US bombs for bombing hospitals and killing children in Gaza.
Gaza’s Hamas-run Health Ministry said more than 10,000 Palestinians have been killed in war in Gaza so far, and more than 4,000 of those killed are children. That toll is expected to rise as Israeli troops advance into urban neighborhoods.
