Occupy Protestors Target US, Canadian Ports

Posted December 12th, 2011 at 3:00 pm (UTC-5)
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Anti-Wall Street protestors are trying to shut down West Coast ports in the U.S. and Canada, as part of a nearly three-month-old movement against what they say is corporate greed.

The protests Monday are taking place in U.S. cities including Anchorage, Los Angeles, Portland, San Diego, and Seattle, as well as in the Canadian city of Vancouver.

In Los Angeles, at least one person was arrested after several hundred people demonstrated at the Port of Long Beach. Port spokesman John Pope said the protest had minimal effect on the port’s operation.

In Portland , hundreds of protesters blocked entrances at two terminals preventing trucks from entering. Workers from the terminals were told to stay home from work.

The demonstrations, called “Wall Street on the Waterfront”, are targeting SSA Marine, a shipping company that is partially owned by investment bank Goldman Sachs. Protesters accuse the company of unfair labor practices and union busting.

Goldman Sachs has been a regular target of the anti-Wall Street campaign.

The Occupy Wall Street movement began in New York in September. It says it represents the “99 percent” — those outside the top 1 percent of wealth holders.

Last week, Occupy protesters in Washington joined thousands of people, including jobless and underemployed Americans, for three days of demonstrations to press an agenda of jobs and economic equality.