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UA activists pleased with WTO demonstration

Demonstrations against the WTO that began with a 50,000-member protest in Seattle and spurred smaller protests across the country, were credited by UA faculty and student activists with raising awareness and partly shutting down the WTO's meeting.

The protesters caused Seattle law enforcement officials to close several streets, and disrupted the World Trade Organization's meeting schedule.

"It shows the power of the people who have been locked out," said Avery Kolers, a University of Arizona Students Against Sweatshops member and philosophy graduate student. "This is what they're going to get if (the WTO) wants to continue in its undemocratic ways."

Many activist groups, including environmentalists, labor unions and human rights advocates, were present at the Seattle protest. A top concern of the demonstrators was that the WTO has an excessive amount of power to promote free trade and globalization.

Andrew Silverman, a UA clinical law professor and a member of the UA Labor Rights Task Force, said he thinks the demonstrators played a large role in the attention the meeting received.

"I think it has been a tremendous accomplishment - without the protest no one would have known that the WTO was even meeting," he said. "The media didn't cover the meeting - they covered the protest."

Rioting began during the second day of the protest, resulting in damage to many downtown businesses and buildings.

Seattle police have been accused of agitating the protesters and being the driving force behind the rioting. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used to control the crowds, and mass arrests were also conducted in downtown Seattle of anyone who didn't work in the area.

"There have been reports from people who have said that the police instigated the rioting," said SAS member Lydia Lester. "Did the WTO really need police attacks?"

To keep protesters off the streets, 200 unarmed members of the U.S. National Guard were called in, and city-wide curfews were implemented.

"I wasn't there, but I think they overreacted many times," Silverman said.

While the demonstration attracted individuals from all age groups, Silverman was encouraged by the number of young people who were involved.

"Its nice to see students active again," he said.

It is uncertain whether the WTO will be met by demonstrations at future meetings, but the possibility has caused speculation.

"I think the WTO will meet resistance wherever it goes," Lester said.

What repercussions the WTO will incur from the attention the protest received is yet to be seen.

"It should bring about changes within the WTO because it's clear there are people out there who aren't happy with what they're doing," Lester added.