D2 - Thursday, December 2nd, 1999
Clinton leaves town. Police force has backed off a bit. Curfew still instigated. Protestors still not allowed downtown. A massive and brutal show of police force happened the night before on Capital Hill - well outside the curfew zone. The event is getting lots of publicity, and the police are being severely critized for it. - Eventually many lawsuits will be filed in regards to the event including groups of Capital Residents who meet weekly to discuss the event. Within one week, one police officer is fired, and the Police Chief resigns.

• 7:51am -Thursday

Angie, got tear gassed last night.

Her and Tina, made the mistake of going up to Broadway to return some rental videos (they don't have TV and had no idea what was going on). They parked on a side street like always and walked around the corner, that's when they heard the explosions (teargas launchers) they looked up saw what looked like fire works, and then were hit by a drifting cloud. Excruciatingly painful she says, even though they were a long way away and didn't get a direct shot - and it smelled really bad. They made it home okay though. I'm fine as well, never left the house - to scared to. In amongst all the explosions and helicopter sounds last night. I could hear people yelling and screaming in pain and panic from my apartment.

News this morning says the police weren't distinguishing between anyone, many of the reporters were hit and hustled as well. Clinton is still very vocal about trying to get the peaceful, protestors demands met. Open the closed sessions, signing child labor treaties, and environmental things. Pushing points the developing countries are not ready to make. He's also trying to get things done as fast as possible noting that he realizes that things will probably calm down a bit when he leaves the city.

400-500 arrested yesterday. The courts are not letting anyone see their lawyers. They are being haled off to their hearings with no legal council even though their lawyers have been standing outside for 16 hours plus.

Mostly just arrested for failure to leave, but the judges are not being lenient at all. Bails are posted at 2 to 10 thousand.

First estimates of the vandalism damages are around $7million. Almost all of the damages were caused by this small 50-75 individuals who are publically claiming responsibility called "Anarchists of Eugene".

Police sirens and that helicopter never stopped all night, but the gunshot/explosions stopped after midnight. WTO Delegates from around the world are saying that every meeting for the last 5 years have been as volatile. Not surprising at all. the Taiwanese say that the damage to businesses in Seattle was negligible in comparison.

Going to work, if I can get gas.

steph

------Posted on the IndyMedia site----
Police Riot on Capitol Hill, Seattle
by Carla Geovanis 10:12am Thu Dec 2 '99

12/1/99: From 7:30 pm until the early morning hours, police attacked protestors and curious onlookers alike in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. A resident describes the events of last night.

Those of us who live on Capitol Hill spent a sleepless night last night.
>From approximately 7:30pm to the early morning hours, police pushed protestors and angry residents up and down Broadway avenue and the nearby vicinity. Police, who have apparently attempted to declare downtown Seattle a 'protest-free zone' (all constitutional issues aside) forced protestors up into the Capitol Hill neighborhood with apparently no plan of action. It's not clear why the police, for the second night in a row, have forced the demonstrators into a residential neighborhood, rather than simply allowing them to maintain their position on the perimeter of the 54 block downtown "civil emergency curfew zone." Capitol Hill is a particularly poor choice, because the neighborhood has a large proportion of student residents, many of whom left their homes out of sheer curiosity, and became angered by what appeared to be out-of-control police. Protestors--who committed no property damage during the police attacks--and curious onlookers alike were hit with several types of pepper spray, tear gas, and projectiles which emitted a sprays of rubber bullets. One Seattle resident who was simply attempting to put gas in his car was chased from his motor vehicle and threatened by law enforcement. A radio journalist for AM 710 was caught in the middle of one volley of the police attack, and burst into tears at the indiscriminate and violent use of force. A Channel 7 journalist was reportly attacked by the police, though this has not yet been confirmed. The events on Capitol Hill last night are perhaps most accurately described as a "police riot."

Individuals who are concerned about the health and safety of peaceful protestors and Capitol Hill residents should contact Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper at 206-684-5577, or Seattle Mayor Paul Schell at 206-684-4000.

Written by Carla Geovanis, Seattle and Capitol Hill resident carlageovanis@hotmail.com
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Reports & Pictures in chronological order:

Tuesday, November 30th

Wednesday, December 1st

Thursday, December 2nd

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