Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Truckers Block L.A. Freeway in Protest
The gridlock occurred during the morning commute on Interstate 5 south of Los Angeles when truckers parked or jackknifed three big rigs, then sped away in a waiting car.
Police had been tipped the night before and were prepared with tow trucks that cleared the lanes within an hour along Interstate 5 in Commerce. Five truckers were arrested. [gee, wonder if they were monitoring trucker emails using the CA Anti-Terrorism Information Center . . . or surveilling phone calls, like the over 2 million requests to listen in by US intelligence which were made in 2002 . . ]
Police had been tipped the night before and were prepared with tow trucks that cleared the lanes within an hour along Interstate 5 in Commerce. Five truckers were arrested. [gee, wonder if they were monitoring trucker emails using the CA Anti-Terrorism Information Center . . . or surveilling phone calls, like the over 2 million requests to listen in by US intelligence which were made in 2002 . . ]
Truckers Block L.A. Freeway in Protest
By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer
[ http://la.indymedia.org/ ]
LOS ANGELES - Independent truckers parked their rigs on a busy freeway outside Los Angeles on Friday morning, snarling rush-hour traffic for miles in a wildcat protest over high diesel prices. Other truckers rallied at two of the largest ports on the West Coast.
The gridlock occurred during the morning commute on Interstate 5 south of Los Angeles when truckers parked or jackknifed three big rigs, then sped away in a waiting car.
Police had been tipped the night before and were prepared with tow trucks that cleared the lanes within an hour along Interstate 5 in Commerce. Five truckers were arrested.
"Disrupting thousands of commuters and disrupting thousands of lives is not the way to get support for your cause," California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Burch said.
Later in the day, hundreds of truckers rallied near the ports of Los Angeles and Oakland to protest high fuel costs and other issues they said are cutting into their profits.
"We're here to fight. With a price like this, we can't survive," said Ramiro Alonso, 38.
Many motorists were unsympathetic.
"Everyone's gas prices are going up too. Blocking up the freeway is asinine," Robert Brown, said as he filled his gas tank near the rush-hour protest.
The protests were part of a loosely organized effort around the state by independent truckers concerned about rapidly rising fuel costs and government fees.
The California Trucking Association said the price of diesel fuel has risen 36 cents in the past two weeks to as high as $2.50 a gallon in California — 56 cents a gallon higher than the national average.
The association, a trade group, has asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) to take steps to keep more of the diesel fuel refined in California in the state as a way to stabilize prices.
"It's clear the truckers are angry, but they are misguided," said Stephanie Williams, senior vice president of the association. "We need a government action."
Updates - http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/04/109228.php
By ROBERT JABLON, Associated Press Writer
[ http://la.indymedia.org/ ]
LOS ANGELES - Independent truckers parked their rigs on a busy freeway outside Los Angeles on Friday morning, snarling rush-hour traffic for miles in a wildcat protest over high diesel prices. Other truckers rallied at two of the largest ports on the West Coast.
The gridlock occurred during the morning commute on Interstate 5 south of Los Angeles when truckers parked or jackknifed three big rigs, then sped away in a waiting car.
Police had been tipped the night before and were prepared with tow trucks that cleared the lanes within an hour along Interstate 5 in Commerce. Five truckers were arrested.
"Disrupting thousands of commuters and disrupting thousands of lives is not the way to get support for your cause," California Highway Patrol Officer Ron Burch said.
Later in the day, hundreds of truckers rallied near the ports of Los Angeles and Oakland to protest high fuel costs and other issues they said are cutting into their profits.
"We're here to fight. With a price like this, we can't survive," said Ramiro Alonso, 38.
Many motorists were unsympathetic.
"Everyone's gas prices are going up too. Blocking up the freeway is asinine," Robert Brown, said as he filled his gas tank near the rush-hour protest.
The protests were part of a loosely organized effort around the state by independent truckers concerned about rapidly rising fuel costs and government fees.
The California Trucking Association said the price of diesel fuel has risen 36 cents in the past two weeks to as high as $2.50 a gallon in California — 56 cents a gallon higher than the national average.
The association, a trade group, has asked Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (news - web sites) to take steps to keep more of the diesel fuel refined in California in the state as a way to stabilize prices.
"It's clear the truckers are angry, but they are misguided," said Stephanie Williams, senior vice president of the association. "We need a government action."
Updates - http://la.indymedia.org/news/2004/04/109228.php
For more information:
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...
Add Your Comments
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$180.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network