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Students to protest World Trade Organization meeting

While thousands of protesters gather outside the Seattle Ministerial meeting of the World Trade Organization today, members of the UA community are picketing against the coalition in downtown Tucson.

University of Arizona's Students Against Sweatshops, Center for Biological Diversity, Women's Studies Graduate Students Collectives and the Labor Party of Pima County will protest the WTO, a Geneva-based group that sets the rules for world trade.

The organization has drawn protest from various human rights activists, who have said the WTO abuses human and labor rights. Protest groups expect around 50,000 people to gather outside the meeting.

The WTO meeting will include a new round of global trade talks, the largest trade event ever held in the United States.

The Tucson protest will take place outside the Inter-American Office for Free Trade, located in the Bank One building, 2 E. Congress St. The protest is expected to last from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

Rachel Wilson, a member of SAS and one of the organizers of the coalition, said the group is concerned because the WTO can impose tariffs that override anti-sweatshop legislation around the world.

"We think Tucson citizens will be surprised to know how much the WTO can affect their lives, in dealing with labor, environment, and even women's rights," she said.

In addition to the Tucson protest, the Sonoran Justice Alliance has sent 10 Tucson citizens to join the expected 50,000 protesters at the meeting in Seattle.

"It's great that Tucson will be represented in Seattle, but we also wanted to hold something local to make everyone aware," SAS co-president Lydia Lester said. "We will be out holding up banners and signs and passing out flyers to attract an audience during rush-hour traffic."

Wilson said she expects a large amount of UA students to join the protest and support their cause.

"The purpose of our protest will be to inform and educate," Wilson said. "We want everyone to know that even though the meeting in Seattle is a great distance away, it will effect everyone in Tucson."