Police Clear Seattle Streets, Curfews Extended

The streets of downtown Seattle have been secured by police and National Guard troops after a long day of cat and mouse with anti- World Trade Organization demonstrators.

A new 24-hour curfew is in effect in the heart of downtown, prohibiting anyone from being in the area unless they have "legitimate business" in the area. KOIN 6 News reports the civil emergency curfew will stand until midnight on Friday.

VIDEO

Police drive crowds from downtown after a civil emergency is declared by the Seattle mayor. More arrests made Wednesday morning as police prepare for another day of riots . Police drive throngs of rioters across the I-5 freeway overpass and try to get the crowd to disperse . Protesters react as police fire bean bags and use pepper spray on demonstrators. Police knock down protesters' fences outside the conference.

About 400 protesters sat in the streets as the 7 p.m. curfew approached. Police on motorcycles and in armored vehicles began moving against the crowds, and cleared the streets of the city's core perimeter within a few hours. Tear and CS gas lingered throughout the area surrounding the convention center as police officers and troops fought to secure the Westin Hotel where WTO delegates and President Clinton are staying for the duration of the conference. Police helicopters shone spotlights on the masses as they migrated out of the "protest-free" zone, with patrol cars blaring sirens and lights guided them along.

Seattle's Battle, In Pictures

The news station says several of the protesters interviewed expressed the idea that they were glad to go home, as it had been a long day for them on the streets. KOIN says the crowds responded to riot gear-clad police directing traffic out of downtown. The demonstrators say they feel they are finally being heard above the clamor of destruction that was Tuesday night. Oregon Rep. David Wu tells KOIN that he thinks the WTO is definitely getting the message that they need to be more democratic and open, a school of thought shared with President Clinton , who expressed such sentiments in his noon speech on Wednesday. Clinton derided the violent actions of the few, but called for the protesters voices to be heard alongside his pledge to opening markets between nations and lowering tariffs.

Many of the demonstrators feel that since the WTO meets in secret, does not elect its members and makes such weighty decisions regarding world trade, peaceful protest will give them a voice.

According to The Associated Press, the new curfew area extends from Denny to Yesler, and from the Interstate 5 freeway to the waterfront, and is the first time such rules have been enforced since World War II.

Police have the right to ask for ID from anyone inside the perimeter during the emergency. Thursday will see more WTO meetings and most likely more protests. As far as officials are concerned, however, they hope for the peaceful kind, but rules are in place if a crackdown is deemed necessary.

Resources:

• Keep an eye on the situation yourself with HistoryLink's WTO Cam
• The official site of the Third WTO Ministerial Conference In Seattle
• Corporate Watch - An anti-WTO watch group on the Web.
• In conjunction with Play Fair Europe, an information site dedicated to launching initiatives against the WTO