Greenpeace vessel denied Miami berth

Posted on Thu, Oct. 16, 2003

PORT OF MIAMI-DADE
Greenpeace vessel denied Miami berth
The Port of Miami-Dade refuses to allow a Greenpeace vessel to land later this month, a decision the group says violates its rights.
BY CHARLES SAVAGE AND LARRY LEBOWITZ
csavage@herald.com

The environmental activist group Greenpeace is accusing the Port of Miami-Dade of violating its free speech rights by refusing to grant dock space to one of its ships later this month.

Greenpeace applied for a one-week berth for its 237-foot vessel Esperanza, which is scheduled to reach Miami on Oct. 26. But Port Director Charles Towsley denied the request, citing security issues.

Greenpeace spokeswoman Nancy Hwa said the group believes it has been singled out because of its political perspective, which would be unconstitutional.

But Port Security Director Nelson Oramas, speaking on behalf of the port, said the decision was based only on Greenpeace's past behavior, not its politics. (snip/...)

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/state/7024104.htm

And the Bush family is no friend to activist groups.

Any vessel must be allowed sanctuary from the ocean no matter who what where or when. It is international maritime law. Not that the Bush*es follow international law or anything.

Greenpeace activists are famous for boarding vessels without permission to unfurl protest banners -- most recently a few weeks ago in the port of Vancouver.

This dispute is playing out against the backdrop of an unusual indictment in federal Miami court against the group itself -- not limiting prosecution to the individual activists, as is typical -- for boarding a ship steaming into the Port of Miami-Dade in April 2002 to draw attention to the illegal harvesting of mahogany in rain forests.

Or maybe the port director just doesn't want those nasty French coming over and sinking the darn thing at his dock.