(PM.) On Monday morning, hundreds of anti-Israel protestors organized by the non-profit Arab Resource and Organizing Center (AROC) surrounded the Port of Tacoma to block a ship they believe will be loaded with weapons and military equipment and sent to the Middle Eastern nation as they continue their war against Hamas terrorists.
“The fight against Israeli apartheid is a fight for freedom for us all,” AROC’s site reads. They go on to say that they hold “the Israeli regime entirely responsible for all unfolding violence we’ve witnessed across historic Palestine. In the face of such violence we recommit ourselves to the struggle for freedom and justice in Palestine, in our region, and globally.”
A post by AROC on Sunday urged protestors to “mobilize” at 3:30 pm to Washington’s Tacoma Port to “stop the military vessel Oakland.”
Crowd continues to grow @PortofTacoma . #komonews pic.twitter.com/h9vKXA69B4
— lee stoll (@LeeStoll) November 6, 2023
“It’s time to block the boat,” the post adds.
An update from Sunday revealed that the MV Cape Orlando was delayed, and was slated to arrive early Monday morning.
“They’re trying to wait us out, but we’ll be ready to say #NoMilitaryAidForIsrael.”
🚨 BREAKING: Antifa and pro-Palestinian activists are blocking a US military ship from loading weapons and supplies being sent to Israel.
This is at the Port of Tacoma in WA.
pic.twitter.com/RCwt02nXej— Katie Daviscourt 🇺🇸 (@KatieDaviscourt) November 6, 2023
The group was instructed to arrive at the port at 5 am Pacific Time on Monday. Video from the morning showed a large group with outside the port with signs that read “Free Palestine,” “no peace on stolen land,” and “End all US aid to apartheid Israel!”
Speaking with KOMO, protestors said that they believe the ship will be loaded around 8 am Pacific time.
“This turnout is incredible,” protestor Alon Lapid told KOMO News on Monday. “The people here are all showing up to support Palestinian liberation return, to stop an ongoing genocide and to call out all U.S. military aid to this genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. We know that we have a responsibility and a duty to shut down this port because the military is literally going to be loading weapons and bombs that are going to be sent to the Israeli occupation regime to commit genocide today. We’re all out in force for Palestine.
The Arab Resource and Organizing Center is fiscally sponsored by the Tides Foundation and does not have non-profit charitable status of their own.
The groups is described by Tides as: “a grassroots organization working to empower and organize our community towards justice and self-determination for all. AROC members build community power in the Bay Area by participating in leadership development, political education, and campaigns.
