1999 Seattle WTO protests

1999 Seattle WTO protests
Steve Kaiser from Seattle, US · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Conflict	1999 Seattle WTO protests
Date	November 30 - December 3, 1999
Place	Seattle, Washington, United States

1999 Seattle WTO protests. The 1999 Seattle WTO protests, also known as the Battle of Seattle, were a series of protests that took place in Seattle, Washington, from November 30 to December 3, 1999, against the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference of 1999. The protests involved a wide range of groups, including environmental and anti-globalization organizations, such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and Ruckus Society, as well as labor unions like the AFL-CIO and Teamsters. The protests were also supported by notable figures like Noam Chomsky, Naomi Klein, and Ralph Nader.

Background

The 1999 Seattle WTO protests were a response to the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Ministerial Conference of 1999, which was held in Seattle from November 30 to December 3, 1999. The conference was attended by representatives from over 130 countries, including United States, China, European Union, Japan, and India. The WTO was established in 1995, as a result of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), with the goal of promoting free trade and reducing trade barriers. However, many critics, including Joseph Stiglitz, Amartya Sen, and George Soros, argued that the WTO's policies benefited large corporations and wealthy nations at the expense of the poor and the environment. The protests were also influenced by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation's uprising in Mexico and the French Confederation of Labour's protests against the European Union's economic policies.

Organization and Planning

The 1999 Seattle WTO protests were organized by a coalition of groups, including the Direct Action Network (DAN), the Ruckus Society, and the Art and Revolution collective. The protests were planned to coincide with the WTO's Ministerial Conference, and involved a range of tactics, including civil disobedience, nonviolent resistance, and street theater. The organizers, including Anita Roddick and Medea Benjamin, used the internet and other media to mobilize support and coordinate the protests, which involved activists from around the world, including Canada, Australia, and United Kingdom. The protests were also supported by local organizations, such as the Seattle Labor Council and the Washington State Labor Council, as well as national organizations like the National Organization for Women and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The Protests

The protests began on November 30, 1999, with a march and rally in downtown Seattle, which was attended by tens of thousands of people, including Vandana Shiva, Jeremy Rifkin, and Susan Sarandon. The protests continued over the next few days, with activists using a range of tactics to disrupt the WTO conference, including blockades, sit-ins, and die-ins. The protests were largely peaceful, but there were some incidents of violence, including clashes between police and protesters, which involved Black Bloc activists and other groups. The protests were widely covered in the media, including CNN, BBC, and The New York Times, and were seen as a major challenge to the WTO and the global trade agenda, which was also opposed by French farmers and Indian farmers.

Police Response and Violence

The police response to the protests was widely criticized, with many activists and observers accusing the police of using excessive force, including pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets. The police also used mass arrests and kettling tactics to contain the protests, which resulted in the arrest of over 500 people, including Judy Wicks and Starhawk. The police response was led by the Seattle Police Department, with support from other law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and the National Guard. The police violence was condemned by many organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Watch, as well as by notable figures like Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela.

Aftermath and Impact

The 1999 Seattle WTO protests had a significant impact on the global trade agenda, with many countries, including United States, European Union, and Japan, re-evaluating their trade policies in response to the protests. The protests also led to the creation of new social movements, including the anti-globalization movement and the Occupy Wall Street movement, which involved activists like Chris Hedges and Cornel West. The protests were also seen as a major victory for the environmental movement and the labor movement, with many organizations, including Greenpeace and the AFL-CIO, claiming the protests as a success. The protests were also studied by scholars like Immanuel Wallerstein and Manuel Castells, who analyzed the protests as an example of globalization and social movements.

Legacy

The 1999 Seattle WTO protests have had a lasting legacy, with many regarding them as a turning point in the global debate over trade and globalization. The protests have been cited as an inspiration by many social movements, including the Arab Spring and the Indignados movement, which involved activists like Wael Ghonim and Stéphane Hessel. The protests have also been the subject of numerous books, films, and documentaries, including Battle in Seattle and This Is What Democracy Looks Like, which featured interviews with Noam Chomsky and Naomi Klein. The protests are remembered as a major moment in the history of social movements and globalization, and continue to be studied by scholars and activists around the world, including University of California, Berkeley and London School of Economics. Category:Protests in the United States