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.

More than 500 people were arrested during the WTO protests. As the conference ended, they were still being held at the King County Jail in downtown Seattle. On the evening of December 3, around 300 supporters began a vigil outside the jail, demanding the protesters' release. Almost all of the prisoners were released by the end of the day on December 5, with a few held for more serious offenses.

This photo shows prisoners being released from King County Jail to a cheering crowd of supporters outside. At front, Francesca Zamora and Carmela Lopriore celebrate their freedom.

Caption information source: "Arrested protesters freed – rally follows jail release; jail abuse alleged" by Kristin Dizon, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 6, 1999, p. B1.