Srini and I went to the WTO protest in Seattle and many have been asking for my reaction to the event, so here's my attempt to put something together.

When we got up to Seattle on the Saturday before the big demo (Tuesday was day one of the protest) I was really amazed and delighted by the energy that was in the air of Seattle.

Seattle is a city that I just adore. The few times I've been up there I've felt it to be very welcoming and full of friendly (despite being somewhat hip and a tad jaded by the whole "grunge" legacy), and this time the good vibes in the air were amplified about 2000x. It seemed that the WTO was the only thing on anyone's mind and the whole city was getting prepared for what was about to happen.

An info-center/meeting spot was set up at 420 E. Denny Way and it was full of some of the warmest, socially-conscious, politically active people I've ever met. Everyone was eating Food not Bomb's Vegan servings, reading zines, resting, talking and preparing for the protest. They were very well-organized, with port-a-potties, a medical center, etc. There was also The Coffee Messiah, which I (and Srini) dubbed "The best coffee shop in the world" and many more little nooks and crannies where people were congregating.

We spent a few days around Seattle-saw some shows, enjoyed the city, drove up to Vancouver Sunday night, etc. Did the tourist stuff, I suppose.

We meant to get to the front lines early Tuesday, but not having set the alarm clock in the hotel, we didn't end up making it to Downtown until around 12:30-at which point, the Labor Union Protest rally was in high gear.

It was amazing to see so many people-of so many races, classes, and ages marching together. Lots of costumes, including the now infamous and very adorable people dressed like Sea Turtles, people on stilts, Bread and Puppet Theater troupe was there with their monstrous and menacing puppets, working class people-steel workers, dock workers, etc. "Hell", even Pat Buchanan was there protesting the WTO (though I never saw the asshole) and some weird Christian people with signs that looked like advertisements for a monster-truck show, but said "Fear God" I never figured out whether they were pro or anti the WTO-it seems that they just had their own agenda all together.

Probably the best comparison I could make to the demonstration, and only the people who participate in Burning Man will really understand, but it had that same surreal vibe of a huge, safe community working together on building something. Can you imagine Burning Man in the middle of a City? The main difference of course was the Storm Trooper cops in their Riot Gear and ultra-cool black rain slickers. They were quite a sight-standing very still, daring any one to get too close, so ready for violence.

I've been hearing some strange rumors about protesters attacking each other and that seems really strange to me. Walking through the crowds, I have only felt safer in my life in a crowd at Burning Man. People were supportive of each other, friendly, and ready to talk about why we were there. Shouting slogans, dancing, DJs played music, people passed the mic around, etc. No real leaders, just as needed, people making announcements like "we need people to go to 4th and Union-delegates are escaping!

The media has been focusing so much on the violence and we keep seeing so many pictures of smashing and looting (which I think is kind of cool to look at) but I worry about the image that gives the world of what happened in Seattle.

Late in the afternoon, there had been some minor damage, mostly just graffiti, a smashed window or two, a sufficiently egged NikeTown, etc. Nothing you wouldn't expect and was really cool to see all this political graffiti all over these ugly icons to consumerism.

People had managed to completely disrupt the opening day ceremonies of the WTO-blocking off every intersection, completely surrounding the hotel where the delegates were staying and the meetings were happening... they had to smuggle delegates in dressed as protesters, it was sorta funny.

Around four or so in the afternoon, it was pretty clear to the cops that we weren't going anywhere any time soon and an issue was ordered to "clear the streets". At this point, cops started shooting canisters of Pepper Spray, rubber bullets, (and I have heard reports, that despite the claims of it not being the case, some cops were even using wooden bullets, which do penetrate the skin and splinter and make a big mess) as well as some strange, experimental nerve gas that made some protesters go into seizures the next day. The cops gave no sufficient warning, offered people no alternatives, shot people point blank in the face, and generally acted like assholes

This mass was merely congregated. We were filling the intersections, shouting chants, waving signs, some people were dancing. There was no violence, looting and the people who organized the demonstration where very good about injecting the spirit of nonviolence, and everyone was determined to keep it that way.... except the cops.

Once the cops started firing on the crowd with these nasty devices (I got a small dose of tear gas that made my eyes hurt like hell, but nothing major-I got out of the thick of things) people started getting pissed, and can you blame them?

A few people started smashing the windows of the businesses and it seemed like a fairly valid response to what was going on. However, most people held their ground or simply went to another corner, until the cops would come and clear that corner as well. eventually pushing everyone up to Capitol Hill.

This escalated until the Mayor declared a "state of civil emergency" (read "martial law") and imposed a curfew and declared downtown to be a "No Protest Zone" a very clear violation of our Constitutional rights to peaceably assemble and protest.

One thing that I saw that really drove home how little these cops and delegates of the WTO cared for basic human life was when I was actually heading away from Downtown up to Capitol Hill. I was passing the Paramount-a theater where the WTO meeting was supposed to be originally, but they had moved it. Around the side is an alley, that had been tented off with this thick white canvas. The tent opened and a nondescript white car with a police siren light in the back window started to drive out from behind the tent. Some protesters tried to block the car, but the car kept coming towards them and two (or three) of the guys jumped on the hood to try to stop the car. Instead of stopping, the driver floored the accelerator reaching a speed of about 30 before swerving really sharply and sending the protesters flying off the car-thankfully, they weren't hurt. Then the car almost plowed right into a huge group of protesters, nearly hitting them.

It felt good to tear down the tenting and pile huge blocks of concrete in the way so no other cars could escape from this back entrance.

I went up on Capitol Hill and visited with a friend who lives up there and we watched what was going on in the news. We kept seeing the same shot of a cop grabbing a kid, throwing him to the ground and kicking him over and over again. We'd see them firing concussion grenades and hear them go off outside his window simultaneously.

On Capitol Hill there was a feeling of pride-that we had finally won. The cheers almost drowned out the Black Helicopters over head.

Now, some conclusions I've come to:

I, first of all, thought that the demonstration was incredible. We were only present for Tuesday, but seeing so many different "kinds" of people get together to raise dissent was inspiring, to say the least. It's really rare that you can see so many people put aside their petty differences as far as what specific issue or style they represent and work together as a whole to make something happen. The people who organized the event did a fantastic job of fanning an air of nonviolence, focus and an agenda. I met a lot of really cool people (and some even knew who I was, which is always a sort of weird "rock star" thing)

One of the things I found most inspiring, more than the resistance to the WTO was the power that was shown-that if we really want something and can work together, we can accomplish something important. I keep thinking about how we SHUT DOWN not only the WTO, but the entire DOWNTOWN of Seattle (during one of the busiest shopping weeks of the year). Just a few days before was Adbusters.org's Buy Nothing Day, which is great, but it was a much more powerful statement that Tuesday was "Buy Nothing Day" in Seattle. What if we could get together once a month in a different city and shut it down for a day to have a huge party? A great way to travel, meet people, and really fuck with the corporations in a direct way.

I digress.

So, I feel that first and foremost, the event was a success-we did win this round and I am very proud of all my fellow protesters who made that happen. And, I do mean ALL. One of the things that makes me very angry about the President, the media, and even a lot of other protesters, is this determination to classify a distinction between "good" and "bad" protesters.

A handful of people acted up later in the day after the cops initiated a volley of tear gas, rubber bullets, and other means of intimidation tactics. It had been very peaceful up till that point. So some stores got smashed up by some kids who were angry at what was going on. I know I can't say that I have any love for businesses like the Gap, NikeTown, Starbucks, McDonalds, and the other businesses that had their windows broken and a smattering of looting here and there. It was pretty easy to turn the other cheek and let them do their thing. It took all types to make the event World News! Even if CNN shows the kid smashing the Starbuck's window over and over again, at least it makes people ask "why is he so pissed at Starbucks?" Whenever we see this sort of action on TV, it's almost always in poor, black/latino neighborhoods. Very much like Columbine, when the white kids start committing the violence-watch out! America is in trouble! So, at least people seeing something has made people who have never even heard of the WTO start to ask questions. A popular graffiti downtown Tuesday was "The world is watching" and indeed, it was.

It was obvious that the cops weren't too concerned about the people that were looting and breaking windows, as these were not the people the cops were focusing their attacks on and the next day, when Mayor Schell had declared a "No Protesting Zone" (which in it's self is a really fucked up violation of our rights as Americans to peaceably assemble and protest), the police continued to gas, hurt and arrest people who were merely trying to speak out. If you need further evidence, you can read all the accounts of Seattle residents who got gassed and had nothing to do with the protest-were merely trying to get too and from their homes, work, etc.

Since the WTO represents a total denial of the importance of a democracy, the cops were just extending that sentiment to the streets.

Well, that should be revised a bit-to totally blame the cops would be very naive. It seems that the demonstration was very organized and planned very well. As far as I understand it, there is no reason at all that the City shouldn't have expected and been prepared for the event. The organizers were very clear (hell, I knew it and I live in the Bay Area) that there would be 50,000 people downtown. There is an interesting letter in the Seattle Post Intelligencer from a cop who said that they (the cops) were treated unfairly by the Mayor, were not given proper equipment and training and were understaffed. And now, the COPS are thinking about going on strike. (and the Chief of Police announced his resignation a few days back) I don't feel too much love for the cops, but if the city would have taken some precautions, if businesses would have boarded up their windows, if they would have worked with the organizers and understood what was going to happen then perhaps the "violence" wouldn't have escalated the way that it did.

No matter what, people have the right to speak up and express how they feel (in a nonviolent way) and shouldn't have to go home with burning eyes, bruises, broken teeth for doing so.

The other big thing that strikes me about the representation of the protesters is classifying us as "Anti Trade". I think that very few people who understand a smidgen of economics (which honestly is about all I understand) know that it is important to have trade with foreign countries. duh. The problem is when a small group of upper class business man are allowed to meet in secret and use intimidation methods to force actions that are above the laws of any country in the world. Putting sanctions and forcing countries who don't want hormone-treated American Beef (France), or lowering standards for the Clean Air act or lifting bans on dolphin and sea turtle harming shrimp nets.

Since what the WTO makes decisions about effects every single person in this world, then it is important that people's concerns ARE represented-and not just with token "OK, you can read the minutes from our meetings" gestures, but through a real democratic system.

Last week was really only the beginning, so what's next folks?

(and it was beginning to look like Y2K would be boring......)

James Squeaky publishes MisterRidiculous.com.