<nettime> [Fwd: Schell Mail #51 -- A Needed Weekend]

[Mike Weisman <popeye@speakeasy.org>]

PaulSchell@MayorSchell.com wrote:

> As we head into a very welcome weekend, there are two things I'd like to
> say.
>
> To the hundreds of people who have written, emailed or called to express
> their support or to offer their help, thank you. Your words and gestures
> mean a great deal to us.
>
> To the thousands of people considering shopping downtown or up on Capitol
> Hill this weekend-enjoy the fact that, for once, buying is in itself a form
> of giving.
>
> It's time for a little quiet and some rest. There is still much work to be
> done to clear the air about WTO, but I sense that passions are finally
> turning to a more level-headed pursuit of the truth.
>
> ALONG THAT SAME LINE, AS ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF INFORMATION, ATTACHED BELOW
> IS A LIST OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND THEIR ANSWERS REGARDING WTO.
>
> ****PLEASE HELP BY DISTRIBUTING IT TO OTHERS****
>
> more later...paul
>
> FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS REGARDING WTO
>
> The following are frequently asked questions that have been asked of both
> the mayor and city council.   We realize that this is not a comprehensive
> list.  During the coming weeks, the mayor and city council will continue to
> address your inquiries during the assessment and evaluation process.
>
> WHAT WAS THE PROCESS FOR SELECTING SEATTLE AS A HOST CITY FOR THE WTO?
> In 1997, a Port of Seattle delegation attended an international tourism
> conference in Geneva shortly after Geneva hosted the WTO annual meeting, and
> was invited to a reception by Ambassador Rita Hayes, the US Ambassador to
> the WTO.
>
> Ambassador Hayes mentioned that the Clinton Administration had offered to
> hold the 1999 WTO Ministerial in the United States, and suggested that
> Seattle would be an ideal city because of its international focus.
>
> As a follow-up to Ambassador Hayes' suggestion, the Port of Seattle advised
> the Washington Council on International Trade expressing interest in the
> event.  Eventually, the political leadership in the region joined in support
> and agreed to meet with advance teams from the USTR, US State Department,
> and WTO.
>
> The list of interested cities was narrowed to 16, and finally to 4 or 5.
> Seattle was selected based on:
> Availability of hotel space
> Capacity of the Washington State Convention Center
> International dimension of the regional economy
> Experience of the City with other international events
> Strength of the corporate community
>
> WAS THERE A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY AND WTO?
> It is not a standard practice for a host city to have a memorandum of
> agreement with a convention party.  Thus, there was no memorandum or formal
> contract of any kind between the City and WTO; the City understood that it
> would work with other law enforcement agencies to assure the safety of the
> WTO visitors.
>
> WHAT IS A STATE OF CIVIL EMERGENCY, AND THE PROCESS FOR IMPOSING IT?
> A State of Civil Emergency is a measure taken to prevent death or injury of
> persons, protect the public peace, safety and welfare, and alleviate damage,
> loss, hardship or suffering.
>
> The Seattle Municipal Code provides that, whenever riot, unlawful assembly,
> natural disaster, or other disturbances occur in the City-or when there is
> imminent threat of that type of situation-and this results in or threatens
> to result in the death or injury of persons, the destruction of property, or
> the disruption of local government, the Mayor may proclaim the existence of
> a civil emergency. (Reference: Seattle Municipal Code, section 10.02.010)
>
> The Proclamation of Civil Emergency issued by Mayor Schell was declared on
> November 30, and terminated on December 4, 1999.  Examples of past
> declarations of civil emergencies include the winter storms and landslides
> of 1996/97, a large electrical outage in 1994, and the Inaugural Day storm
> of 1992.
>
> HOW WAS A CURFEW ESTABLISHED, AND ITS ORDER ENACTED?
> The Mayor established a curfew area in downtown Seattle, which took effect
> November 30th until December 3rd.  The curfew area allowed access to
> delegates, authorized personnel, employers, residents, press, and public
> safety personnel.  As signed, the declaration makes no exception for others
> coming into the area. Violation was a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up
> to $500 and six months in jail.
>
> The Mayor declared the emergency, which was presented to the City Council at
> the earliest practical time for ratification, modification, or rejection.
> The declaration was adopted by the Seattle City Council.
>
> ISN'T A NO PROTEST ZONE CONTRARY TO THE 1ST AMENDMENT?
> The term "no-protest zone" is a misnomer.   The City established a "limited
> curfew zone" or buffer zone around the Convention Center and nearby hotels
> housing WTO delegates.  Anyone permitted in the zone could lawfully exercise
> his or her First Amendment rights.   In addition, protesters could
> demonstrate along the buffer zone and within other areas of the city, such
> as those organized marches that occurred on Thursday and Friday.
>
> WHAT HAPPENED ON CAPITOL HILL?
> It was a several-hour standoff between police and demonstrators on Capitol
> Hill Wednesday night that included property damage and six arrests.
>
> At approximately 7 p.m. the streets of downtown Seattle were cleared of
> protesters. Then 200-300 people went to the Broadway area of Capitol Hill.
> They blocked the streets at two main intersections: Broadway Avenue and East
> Olive Way and Broadway Avenue and Pine Street. Officers were deployed to
> disperse the group, and faced off with the group for the next several hours.
>   Agitators in the crowd threw rocks and bottles at officers. Some officers
> reported that some agitators in the group had Molotov Cocktails. There was a
> sense of urgency and concern, particularly in light of the fact that the
> City has seen property damage, fires and injuries over the past few days.
> Property damage was reported on Broadway Wednesday night, but a damage
> estimate is not available.
>
> Some of the protesters charged at the police line. Police provided numerous
> public safety warnings and an order to disperse over a loudspeaker, prior to
> deploying pepper spray and CS gas (commonly referred to as tear gas). A
> number of the protesters dispersed and then moved on to Pine Street near
> 12th Avenue and the Seattle Police Department's East Precinct.
>
> The crowd grew larger. At 1 a.m., 300 people remained on Pine Street.
> Officers continued to give the order to disperse. The 911 communications
> center received several calls from people threatening to retrieve weapons
> and return to Broadway. Due to the numbers of people, police reinforcements
> were called consisting of a number of mutual aid agencies and the National
> Guard. Another order to disperse was issued over a loudspeaker, with a
> notification that chemical restraint would be used. As a matter of policy,
> after that is done, the crowd is given an opportunity to disperse. CS gas
> was deployed, as well as rubber pellets. The crowd was dispersed at
> approximately 2 a.m. Six people were arrested.
>
> Why were gas and concussion bombs used in a residential neighborhood like
> Capitol Hill?
> Only tear gas and "stingballs," which contain rubber pellets, were used on
> Capitol Hill.
>
> A gas station on Capital Hill was twice taken over and people were seen
> filling small containers with gasoline.  Volleys of rocks, bottles and golf
> balls were thrown at police, and a police car was surrounded and rocked
> backed and forth by rioters.
>
> WHAT ARE CS GAS AND OC? WHAT DO THEY DO?
> CS gas is commonly known as tear gas. OC is commonly known as pepper spray.
> Recipients of a charge of CS or OC spray should be rendered incapable of
> serious aggression for 10-20 minutes after exposure. Symptoms associated
> with exposure are irritation of the eyes, skin, mouth, nose, or lungs. These
> agents act directly on the mucous membranes to produce irritation, burning,
> and pain in the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory tract. These effects are
> noted immediately and persist from 5-20 minutes after removal from the
> contaminated atmosphere. Effects of CS and OC, while severe at the time of
> exposure, are short lived. It is unlikely that a person exposed to CS or OC
> will suffer long-term effects.
>
> WERE ANY GASES OTHER THAN CS AND OC USED, E.G., NEUROTOXIC GASES?
> No.  Only standard forms of pepper spray and tear gas were used.
>
> WHY BAN GAS MASKS FOR REGULAR CITIZENS?
> Gas masks were banned for regular citizens because many of those engaging in
> illegal activity had equipped themselves with gas masks in anticipation of
> the gas, which made it difficult to disperse crowds and halt illegal
> activity.
>
> IS IT TRUE THAT THE MAYOR PROVIDED FOOD AND BLANKETS TO THE PROTESTERS
> HOUSED IN THE 9TH & VIRGINIA BUILDING OR ANY OTHER SITE?
> No, nor did the Mayor's Office make such a request of other agencies.
>
> IS IT TRUE THAT THE MAYOR'S STAFF WERE GIVEN GAS MASKS & PROTECTION DEVISES
> IN PREPARING FOR WTO?
> No.
>
> WHO PAYS FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE?
> First, the Seattle Law Department expects that in almost all cases the
> businesses are covered by private insurance.  Business owners should file
> claims with their insurance providers.
>
> Second, if the individuals who damaged the property can be identified, a
> civil or criminal action can be taken against those persons and compensation
> for the damage can be sought from them.
>
> Third, the City is working with a variety of business organizations to get
> their accurate assessment of damage and then will either pursue Federal
> Disaster Assistance or other strategies that make sense.
>
> WHAT LAWS WERE PROTESTERS AND VIOLATORS ARRESTED UNDER?
> Arrests have primarily been for specific criminal behavior such as failure
> to disperse after receiving a public safety order to disperse, pedestrian
> interference, property destruction, and assault.
>
> HOW MANY PROTESTERS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED?
> Approximately 600 protesters.
> How many have been released?
> All except for approximately 20 protesters being held on charges other than
> pedestrian interference and failure to disperse.
>
> WILL THE MAYOR RESIGN?
> No.
>
> WHY DID THE MAYOR INITIALLY APOLOGIZE FOR THE BEHAVIOR OF SPD ON WEDNESDAY,
> AND RESCINDED HIS APOLOGY THE NEXT DAY?
> The Mayor expressed his regrets that people in the city were innocently
> involved and suffered from the use of tear gas, pepper spray and other
> necessary measures. People may have taken his apology as a statement that
> police overreacted and that is not the case.
>
> WHAT OUTSIDE AGENCIES WERE INVOLVED TO HELP PROVIDE INFORMATION TO CREATE
> THE SECURITY PLAN?
> A security plan was prepared and approved in conjunction with 25 security
> agencies from all levels of public safety professions.
>
> DID THE TEAR GAS RELEASED ON CAPITOL AFFECT THE WATER SUPPLY IN LINCOLN
> RESERVOIR?
> No gas could have affected Seattle's water supply in any way. Lincoln
> Reservoir on Capitol Hill, a block off Broadway at E. Olive St., was out of
> service and empty during the entire WTO week. It was disinfected on Dec. 8
> and refilled. Presently it is still out of service, pending routine
> bacteriological tests that follow every reservoir cleaning.
>
> During WTO week and until Dec. 8, the Volunteer Park reservoir was also out
> of service and under surveillance. No protests occurred near the reservoir
> and there was no vandalism. Regular bacteriological tests showed that the
> water quality was excellent and it was returned to service Dec. 8.
>
> ***********************************************************
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--
Please respond to:
Mike Weisman
popeye@speakeasy.org

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