Pro-Palestinian protesters arrived at Tacoma's Washington United Terminals to try to forme picket lines and disrupt the loading and unloading of the "ZIM Chicago" on Saturday morning, August 23.
Protesters from the activist group “Block the Boat,” about 100 people, said they would protest in both Seattle and Tacoma, upon the arrival of the containership Zim Chicago.
The protesters voiced their opposition against ZIM Lines’ association with the State of Israel and its recent military actions in the Gaza Strip. Longshore workers were taken to the terminal by an alternate route and began their shift as usual.
Tara Mattina, a Port of Tacoma spokeswoman said “We’re not going to talk about how they got in. The ship did come in as expected, and the longshore workers started working at 8 a.m.”
Mattina said the Israeli-owned ship arrived in Commencement Bay on Friday night and entered the terminal on the Blair Waterway early Saturday.
The Chicago is carrying consumer goods from Asia, she said, and is expected to be in port for two days.
Tacoma police arrested one activist on Saturday evening after protesters blocked the road and resisted arrest at an entrance to a Port of Tacoma terminal.
