An array of issues brought tens of thousands of protesters to Seattle 20 years ago Saturday, with one unifying theme: concern that the World Trade Organization, a then-little-known body charged with regulating international trade, threatened them all. With then-President Clinton due to arrive, the mayor declared a downtown curfew and no-protest zone — restrictions not seen in Seattle since World War II. A federal jury later ruled the city was liable for arresting protesters without probable cause, and the city settled lawsuits. We helped bring that to the forefront,” said Wathne, who lives in the Seattle suburb of Lake Forest Park and works for the Humane Society. The legacy of the WTO protests may be partly to thank, he said.

Source: Los Angeles Times November 29, 2019 21:45 UTC