Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 23:04:52 -0500
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Fwd: Police Rallies Clash in Seattle




-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Police Rallies Clash in Seattle
Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 21:10:38 -0500


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/a/AP-WTO-Police-Rally.html

Police Rallies Clash in Seattle

By The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) -- Critics of the embattled Seattle Police Department
nearly
upstaged a rally by supporters at a downtown park Saturday.

The police are under fire for their handling of protests during the
World
Trade Organization meetings.

``Hey, hey. Ho, ho. Police brutality has got to go,'' demonstrators
chanted
as city and law enforcement officials took the podium to thank more than
400
citizens packed into Westlake Park.

The speakers spoke loudly into the microphone to ensure that all could
hear
above a steady stream of protest chants.

``There are no words to express what this means to us. All of you taking
time out for us is just phenomenal,'' Seattle Police Officers Guild
President Mike Edwards told supporters.

The Guild staged the rally and was selling ``Battle of Seattle''
T-shirts
commemorating events surrounding the WTO talks Nov.30-Dec.3, which
included
the smashing of downtown store windows, slashing of squad car tires and
more
than 500 arrests of demonstrators.

The mayor's office and City Council are investigating allegations of
police
misconduct during protests, and the local chapter of the American Civil
Liberties Union and London-based Amnesty International have called for
independent probes.

``Police did a great job gassing me, pepper spraying me. I was a
peaceful
protester,'' said Dixie Black, 26, a member of Black Mesa Indigenous
Support, a Flagstaff, Ariz.-based group that works on behalf of Indian
tribes.

Supporters appeared to outnumber critics by about four to one at the
rally.

``I think the police showed remarkable restraint. I can't say enough for
them,'' said Jeani Piper, 75, of Seattle.

Neither Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper nor Mayor Paul Schell spoke at
the
rally. Both have been criticized for the handling of WTO protests, and
Stamper has announced he will retire.