Seattle Curfew Holds Amid Tear Gas Chaos
President Derides Violence, But Grateful For 'Intense Interest' In The WTO
Tear gas fog choked the streets of Seattle for the second day in a row as hundreds more protesters were arrested in a city plagued with violent unrest.
Police continue to make runs through the retail core of the city with sirens blaring from patrol cars and motorcycles to ward off demonstrators and block intersections. Metro bus service through downtown has also been cutoff for the night.
The Associated Press reports the bomb squad was called to the Pike Place Market, after a rioter grabbed what was believed to be an unexploded police device and stuffed it into a corner newspaper box. The device, however, had already been detonated, AP says.
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Police drive crowds from downtown after a civil emergency is declared by the Seattle mayor.
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President Clinton made an afternoon speech to farmers, local trade students and area officials at the Port of Seattle, touching on the chaos on the streets outside, as well as speaking about global trade issues, says KOIN 6 News in Portland, Ore.
"I want to say just a few words about all the rather interesting hoopla that's been going on here. We need to start and ask ourselves some basic questions: Do you believe that on balance, over the last 50 years, the United States has benefited from world trade? I do," he said.
Clinton condemned the renegade elements of the protests, responsible for clashes with police, but called for a more open forum for dissent at the World Trade Organization meeting.
"I'm convinced we do have to open the WTO and the world trading system
to greater public scrutiny and to greater public participation? But I am glad that
there is such intense interest in this meeting, because it shows that
people really do care about this now; and ? trade decisions ? have to become part of the democratic process."
Addressing agriculture concerns, the president affirmed his commitment to increasing trade and lowering tariffs throughout international markets.
"Increasing economic cooperation is in the interest of the ordinary citizens of the United States and the rest of the world," he added.
Repeated standoffs between police and demonstrators resulted in continuous tear- and pepper-gassing as law enforcement helicopters buzzed overhead.
KOIN says at least 400 people were arrested as of Wednesday night and busses continue to ferry loads of those in custody to the Sand Point Naval Brig, a holding facility near the University of Washington.
Earlier in the evening, Wash. Gov. Gary Locke, in an attempt to reassure visitors and residents, said,"Calm has been brought back to downtown Seattle. People can even protest in a non-violent fashion," apparently unaware of the ongoing melee in the streets.
Locke called in 200 troops from the Washington National Guard.
Demonstrators took on police in a mid-afternoon march from a steelworkers rally to the convention center, but were held off by baton-wielding police and national guardsmen enforcing the "protest-free zone."
Police locked down the twin-towered Westin Hotel, where the president and WTO delegates are staying, as protesters attempted to breach their lines.
For the second night in a row, a curfew from 7 p.m. until dawn will be enforced in the downtown city perimeter. The civil emergency declared Tuesday night remains in effect.
Lines of police and armored vehicles continue to chase pockets of resistance throughout the city streets, unleashing volleys of gas and making arrests.
The president and local officials insist the WTO convention will proceed, although the chaos is beginning to take its toll on delegates and mar the appearance of this American host city.
Resources:
- Keep an eye on the situation yourself with HistoryLink's WTO Cam
- The official site of the Third WTO Ministerial Conference In Seattle
- The Seattle WTO Host Web site
- 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
