WTO protest anniversary

[Heather <heather@teknopunx.co.uk>]

[: hacktivism :]

 Any cyber actions planned to support this one?
H
Thousands expected in Seattle for WTO protest anniversary
Police gear up to curb any vandalism or lawlessness

Tuesday, November 14, 2000

By VANESSA HO
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

It's time to dust off the sea turtle outfits.

Just when you thought you could venture downtown without hearing musty
"power to the people" chants, comes N30 2000.

That's shorthand for Nov. 30, the anniversary of the World Trade
Organization protests. It's also the date -- two weeks from now -- when
thousands of protesters, police officers, street puppets and holiday
shoppers are expected to converge in downtown Seattle.

Deja vu? Maybe.

For months, activists have been planning marches and teach-ins to
celebra=
te
their success in hindering the WTO meetings last year in Seattle.

The Seattle Police Department, not to be caught off-guard this time, has

also been gearing up.

Few people anticipate anything like last year's riots, in which some
50,0=
00
WTO protesters wreaked havoc. Police unleashed tear gas and rubber
pellet=
s
on crowds for three days, while the city imposed a curfew, the National
Guard was called out and shuttered downtown shops lost significant
busine=
ss.

This year, no one knows how many people are expected to show up. Some
organizers anticipate a "significant" crowd, with protesters from Oregon
=
and
California. Others simply say it won't be as big as last year's.

"This is just a celebration to have fun, and no one is planning any
violence," said organizer Damien Bradley. "We just want to use our
constitutional rights for free expression, music, poetry and
festivities.=
"

Still, everyone with a stake in what transpires says they're prepared.

For months, three top Police Department administrators have been
developi=
ng
an operational plan featuring various mayhem-quelling strategies. The
department has "red-dotted" Nov. 30, meaning only people with a
scheduled=

vacation can take the day off.

Detectives have been ordered to have their patrol uniforms at the ready.

Officers are taking inventory of riot gear. The King County Sheriff's
Off=
ice
and the Washington State Patrol have been alerted in case Seattle needs
help.

"The city will not tolerate lawlessness at all," said Dick Lilly,
spokesm=
an
for Mayor Paul Schell. "We know we've learned from last year; there just

can't be any tolerance of lawlessness, particularly vandalism."

Police spokesman Sean O'Donnell would not reveal details of the
departmen=
t's
strategic planning, but said the department has learned its lesson.

"We are keenly aware of the areas that were problems last year, and we
believe our operational plan will make us more capable of addressing
some=
 of
those issues," O'Donnell said.

"Many of our officers . . . are veterans in this sort of behavior, and
they're more confident in being able to act and react in an appropriate
fashion," he said.

The N30 events will coincide with the downtown carousel rides and the
holiday shopping season, which draws thousands of people. Many
businesses=

say they are aware of the protests, but do not plan to close shop, board
=
up
windows or otherwise alarm shoppers -- unless the anniversary turns
ugly.=


"At this point it is difficult to predict the impact it will have, but
we=

are hopeful that it will be peaceful and not too much of an
inconvenience=
,"
said Nordstrom spokesman John Bailey.

The company, he said, will have additional security and "take
appropriate=

precautions" to ensure the safety of customers and employees.

Activists say last year's protests not only shut down WTO, but spawned a
=
new
type of global protesting, including those against the International
Monetary Fund and the World Bank meetings in Washington, D.C., and the
Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.

To celebrate, they are planning several marches that will coalesce at
Westlake Plaza with a "global potluck" of vegan barbeque and organic
appl=
es.

Capitol Hill marchers will host an "anarchist street party." The
People's=

Assembly will march from downtown.

The Tibetan Rights Action Coalition, Jubilee 2000 and the King County
Lab=
or
Council are also getting involved.

"It was a huge victory for democracy and public opinion," Chris Cain, of

Global Action Seattle, said of the WTO protests. "It's important to
conti=
nue
to educate the public about what's going on."



-------------------------------------------------------------------------=

---
----

P-I reporter Vanessa Ho can be reached at 206-448-8003 or
vanessaho@seattle-pi.com


=A9 1998-2000 Seattle Post-Intelligencer



--

--
01100110 01101001 01110011 01101000 01100101 01111001 01100101
         o
        O
          O  o
           o
          O
           o
            <@><
 Overgrow the Government!

 There ain't no Sanity Clause.




&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&*&
www.teknopunx.co.uk for news politicians don't want you to read
www.driftart.co.uk for beautiful artwork 

Lord Acton: Lord Chief Justice of England, 1875 

"The issue which has swept down the centuries 
and which will have to be resolved sooner or later 
is The People v. The Banks."




[: hacktivism :]
[: for unsubscribe instructions or list info consult the list FAQ :]
[: http://hacktivism.tao.ca/ :]