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.

This poster is one of many created by groups and individuals protesting the WTO conference. The simple black and white poster with stenciled lettering declares "This area has been declared a no protest zone. All police officers must disperse immediately by order of the people of Seattle."