A judge declared a mistrial after a six-person Cowlitz County jury couldn't reach a verdict in the trial of the highest-ranking Longshore union member arrested in protests last year at the Port of Longview.

Robert McEllrath of San Francisco is the international president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. He was charged with obstructing a train Sept. 7 when he stood on rail tracks with other protesters to block a train from entering a grain terminal.

Although the charge was a misdemeanor, dockworkers came from all over the world to show solidarity.

McEllrath represents 50,000 workers in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Hawaii.

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