The Third Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held in Seattle from November 30 to December 3, 1999. Trade ministers and other officials from the WTO's 135 member nations met in an unsuccessful attempt to plan negotiations to further deregulate free trade. Tens of thousands of activists for many causes gathered to protest what they saw as the WTO's favoring of corporate interests over social and environmental concerns.

On November 29, the opening of the Washington State Convention and Trade Center was delayed for two hours after the Seattle Police Department (SPD) noticed a broken hasp on a front door. While officers, fire fighters, troopers, and federal agents searched the building, a heavy police presence outside formed a wall between the protesters and WTO delegates and journalists waiting to enter the building. Here, Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper walks with officers in riot gear near the Convention Center during the delay. Shortly after the conference ended, Stamper submitted his resignation, taking full responsibility for police actions during the protests. As of 2024, Stamper is an author and champion for police reform.

Caption information source: "Police in force after security scare early", Seattle Post-Intelligencer, November 30, 1999, page A16.