|
|
Site NavigationHomeAbout us People's Police Report Shootings & deaths Cool links Other Information Contact info Donate
|
World Trade Organization Protests: The Activism Continues Remember the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests in Seattle last November? The world was shocked by the televised spectacle of police attacking protesters with batons, pepper spray, teargas, and rubber bullets. Masked "anarchists" broke windows and wrote "We are winning" in spraypaint all over downtown. The residents of Capitol Hill bravely confronted overzealous police. Seattle Mayor Paul Schell declared a State of Emergency, and called the National Guard to enforce both a 7 pm curfew and a ban on all protests. Over six hundred people were arrested. Stories circulated about prisoners being tortured, held without bond or legal representation. Thousands of people violated the ban on demonstrations, and several hundred surrounded the King County Jail until lawyers were allowed to meet with those arrested. The WTO itself suffered enormous set- backs, from the cancellation of the opening ceremony, to ending without an agreement for another round of talks. Of course, there's plenty to say about what happened in Seattleabout the police violence, the suspension of constitutional rights, the distortions in the media, the political fallout. Several members of Copwatch attended and observed much of what happened first-hand. We want to provide an analysis and some advice based on the much-talked-about events. The analysis: There can be little doubt among those present at the demonstrations as to the role of the police in our society. When presented with a clear conflict between the general public and the interests of global capital, the police were firmly on the side of capital. Without regard to human or civil rights, the safety or well-being of demonstrators and the public at large, the law itself, or even their own interests as workersthe police acted viciously to defend the interests of the representatives of the ruling class. Not the law, nor our rights, nor common human decency could act to restrain them. It's a miracle no one was killed by the cops. The advice: People are still facing charges. Lawsuits are in the works. That means that there is a clear and pressing need for evidence. Members of Portland Copwatch have assisted in this effort since day one, collecting statements from witnesses and photographing injuries. But obviously there are still people to whom we haven't talked. If you were at the WTO protests and experienced or witnessed anything improper at the hands of the authorities, please follow these instructions: 1) Write an account of what happened, with as much detail as possible. Include: the time, date, and location of the incident; names, descriptions, and agency of law enforcement officers; names, descriptions, and contact information for victims and witnesses; and, a narrative of the incident, emphasizing the basis of your complaint. 2) Collect all other evidence, such as doctor's reports, photographs, video, and physical evidence (teargas canisters, rubber bullets, etc.).
3) Send copies of all documents, and all the physical evidence, to
|
April, 2000
|
|
Portland Copwatch Portland Copwatch is a grassroots, volunteer organization promoting police accountability through citizen action.
People's Police Report
#20 Table of Contents
|