Active Trans - WTO Emergency Report - Seattle, the second day

Active Transformation is an anarchist collective with members in Detroit and Lansing Michigan. For more info call Shaun @ (517) 355-0038 or email fighttowin@email.com .

Active Transformation
Emergency Alert - Thursday November 2nd 1999

400 Arrested
Seattle Under Martial Law

By Shaun,

Authorities late Tuesday decided that the protesters, which at times numbered some 50,000 strong, would not shutdown the World Trade Organization Conference for another day. The Governor of Washington declared a state of emergency Tuesday night as thousands of protestors trashed corporate stores throughout the city center. The protests turned increasingly ugly after police indiscriminately fired tear gas and shot rubber bullets at the massive crowds passive protestors earlier in the day.

A curfew was established for 7 p.m. Tuesday night. The National Guard was sent in and fought protestors throughout the night to secure a 52 block, "no protest zone," around the conference site.

On Wednesday, protestors were greeted with the National Guard and hundreds of officers from around the state. Over 400 people had been arrested or taken in to custody by 3:00 p.m.

Cracking Down

Police didn't discriminate with the crack down on Wednesday. They arrested protestors who had taken over intersections on the outskirts of the "no protest zone" and tear-gassed a 4,000-person march by the teamsters. Activists from Detroit and Lansing, including members of Active Transformation, were detained at a nonviolent protest outside the "no protest zone." They have been held in a city bus, with no bathroom, since early afternoon on Wednesday. Police have denied them the right to see a lawyer and they have refused to leave the bus until this right is granted. We have heard reports of those in jail, refusing to show ID or identify themselves, have been beaten and had pepper spray applied to their eyes.

Martial Law

On Monday and Tuesday, the protesters had complete control of the streets of Seattle. Protesters packed 50,000 into the downtown area, making it impossible for any of the delegates to get to the convention site or out of their hotels. Effectively shutting down the WTO talks for the first two days.

Police engaged in a kind of turf war, trying to clear intersections and disperse thousands of non-violent protesters, by firing chemical irritants into the air and firing rubber bullets. However the police were far under prepared for the hostility and property damage unleashed by the protesters, who after being tear-gassed, destroyed the Gap, Starbucks, Nike Town and dozens of other corporate stores.

Demonstrate to Free the Anti-WTO Activists!

Friday, December 3
12 - 1 p and 5 - 6 p
Federal Building at Michigan and Cass in down town Detroit

Over 500 people were arrested in Seattle. A majority of these people were arrested for unknowingly breaking the no-protest zone. All of the Detroit and Lansing Active Transformation Members are among those who have been arrested. We don't have all of the information yet, but we do know that they are being held on busses. People who have been taken off the buses have been beaten and pepper sprayed. Due to these attacks on the protesters, some have barricaded themselves on the buses where they have been for hours. There are lawyers in the vicinity, but they are not being allowed to see the prisoners. We will be supporting the protesters here locally, demonstration, date and time tba.

Some are also calling the mayor's office in Seattle to voice our support (206) 684-4000

onward...
shaun g

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email: fighttowin@email.com
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Active Transformation
Email: activetrans@hotmail.com
Mail: POBox 6746, East Lansing MI 48826
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From: Independent Media Center
http://www.indymedia.org

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