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World Trade Organization (WTO)

The Third Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held in Seattle from November 30 to December 3, 1999. In response, activists gathered for one of the largest political demonstrations in Seattle history. These protests cast a spotlight on issues ranging from environmental protection and labor rights to international diplomacy and free speech.

Image of Cable tie handcuffs from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests in Seattle, 1999
Image of You Are Under Attack, Resist the WTO poster, Seattle, 1999
Image of Rubber bullets from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests in Seattle, 1999
Image of Carnival Against Capital, Stop the WTO! poster, Seattle, 1999
Image of World Trade Organization (WTO) protest material,
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Image of Dollar bill from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Seattle, 1999
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Image of Dollar bill from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest, 1999
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Image of Gas mask used by WTO protester, 1999
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Image of Sea turtle costume shell from the World Trade Center (WTO) protests, 1999
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Image of Poster and yellow caution tape from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest,
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Image of Picket sign from the 1999 World Trade Organization conference (WTO) protests in Seattle
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Image of World Trade Organization (WTO) protest T-shirt, 1999
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Image of Dolphin sign from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protest in Seattle, 1999
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Image of Banner,
Image of Alexis Herman, U.S. Secretary of Labor, speaking at the WTO Conference, Seattle, November 28, 1999
Image of Banner, “World Trade Organization / November 30 – December 3,” 1999
Image of Juan Somavia, Director-General of the International Labor Organization, at the WTO Conference, Seattle, November 28, 1999
Image of World Trade Organization (WTO) umbrella given to delegates in Seattle, 1999
Image of Rainforest Action Network WTO protest banner, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Banner,
Image of Cheri Honkala being arrested by police at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of WTO protest sign,
Image of Demonstrators in turtle costumes at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Seattle Raging Grannies hat with activist buttons, ca. 1995
Image of Demonstrators in turtle costumes at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of One of two Motorola handheld radios, used by Direct Action Network during the WTO protests, 1999
Image of National Family Farm Coalition protest before WTO conference, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Bentwood style cedar box given as a gift to Seattle World Trade Organization (WTO) conference attendees, 1999
Image of Demonstrators in turtle costumes at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Coffee mug featuring the WTO conference in a cyclone, given as gift from the Seattle Police Department to conference worker, L.A. McNeal, 1999
Image of Demonstrators in turtle costumes at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of King County Metro bus pass given to all volunteers and workers at the Seattle World Trade Organization (WTO) conference, Nov. 28 - Dec. 3, 1999
Image of Erin O'Connell facing line of police officers at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Toy stuffed animal
Image of People in turtle costumes dancing at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Seattle Police Department jacket worn by Captain Jim Pugel during the World Trade Center (WTO) conference and protests in Seattle, 1999
Image of Mohamed Sultan, trade delegate from Djibouti, at the WTO Conference, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Gas mask and carrying case used by Captain Jim Pugel during the World Trade Center (WTO) conference and protests in Seattle, 1999
Image of Jubilee 2000 Coalition march at WTO protest, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Street sign for Union Way, temporarily posted on Pine Street during the World Trade Center (WTO) conference in Seattle, 1999
Image of Guests at opening reception of WTO at Stadium Exhibition Center, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Spent tear gas cannister from the World Trade Organization (WTO) Conference protest in Seattle, 1999
Image of Clare Short, Pascal Lamy, and Mike Moore listening to WTO opponents, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Long sleeve shirt with David Horsey cartoon,
Image of WTO panel listening to critics, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Three remnant pieces of a flash-bang grenade from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests, 1999
Image of WTO panel listening to critics, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Wooden bullet from the World Trade Organization (WTO) protests, 1999
Image of WTO Secretary-General Mike Moore speaking at a media briefing, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Denim dress from Seattle Gear, 1980s
Image of Press waiting for access to Convention Center during WTO conference, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Single packaged condom handed out by Greenpeace during WTO protests, 1999
Image of Delegates and others waiting for access to the WTO conference, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Signed
Image of Seattle Police Captain Jim Pugel, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Acrylic painting,
Image of Delegates and others waiting for access to the WTO conference, November 29, 1999
Image of Acrylic painting,
Image of US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and others speaking at WTO conference, November 29, 1999
Image of Acrylic painting,
Image of Delegates and others waiting to enter WTO conference, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Madeleine Albright and Gary Locke at WTO conference, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Seattle Chief of Police Norm Stamper at the WTO Conference, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of WTO protest group walking north toward downtown Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Police and protesters, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Police officer pointing gas launcher at protesters at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Police and protesters at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Police pulling protester off armored vehicle at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of View of WTO protest march at 5th and Pine, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Protesters reacting to tear gas attack at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Protester being treated for tear gas exposure at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Police firing pepper spray at WTO protesters, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Korean farmers at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Demonstrators tending to tear gas victim during WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Seated protester facing police line at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Union groups at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Student WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Student WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Art and Revolution’s Giant Liberation Puppet at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Protesters sitting with joined arms at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Falun Gong followers in Westlake Park during WTO protests, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Labor union members marching at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Steelworkers and Free Tibet protesters at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of UW MEChA group protesting the WTO conference, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Labor unions demonstrators at WTO protest march, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Jose Botafogo, trade ambassador from Brazil, in Seattle for WTO conference, November 30, 1999
Image of C.C. Chen, trade official from Taiwan, in Seattle for WTO conference, November 30, 1999
Image of Henri Benkoski, government official from Belgium, in Seattle for WTO conference, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO ministers from Chad and Central Africa Republic listening to Plenary Session, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO delegates listening to a speaker, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Speakers on dais in front of WTO banners, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of US Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky and Gene Sperling, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Delegate waiting for the opening meeting of the WTO conference, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Delegates waiting for WTO meetings to begin, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protesters at Pike Place Market, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Dumpster fire at WTO protest, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protesters blocking conference delegates, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protester leaning on police van with hands tied, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protesters with arms joined by pipe, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protesters after tear-gassing, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protesters blocking downtown intersection, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of WTO protester with bloodied face, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Police officers holding demonstrator at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Storekeeper behind security gate during WTO protests, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Law enforcement officers carrying demonstrator at WTO protests, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Demonstrators sitting in street at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Line of police officers at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Line of police officers at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Police line facing protesters at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Police officers at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Kneeling demonstrators facing police line at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Kneeling demonstrators facing police line at WTO protest, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of National Family Farm Coalition march at Pier 86 Grain Terminal, Seattle, December 2, 1999
Image of President Clinton at WTO conference, Seattle, December 2, 1999
Image of Bill Clinton with Mike Moore, director-general of the WTO, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Bill Clinton speaking to trade ministers at WTO conference, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Union workers demonstrating at WTO protests, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Vigil for WTO protesters held at King County Jail, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Vigil for WTO protesters held at King County Jail, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Ralph Nader in Seattle during WTO protests, December 3, 1999
Image of U.S. delegates at WTO conference, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of U.S. delegates at WTO conference, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of U.S. delegates at WTO conference, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Man speaking with police officers at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Demonstrators marching at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Demonstrators marching at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Demonstrators marching at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Motorcycle police officer at WTO march, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Indigenous drummers at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Union workers marching at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Topless demonstrators at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Workers covering store windows prior to WTO protests, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Union workers marching at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Delegates leaving WTO Conference, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of Young man at WTO protest, Seattle, December 3, 1999
Image of WTO protesters released from jail, Seattle, December 5, 1999
Image of Reparations 2000 march flier, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Jubilee 2000 Northwest coalition flier, 1999
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Image of
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Image of Infernal Noise Brigade marching in the WTO protests, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Environmental march at WTO protests, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Crowd of turtle-clad demonstrators headed for the WTO protest march, Seattle, 1999
Image of Steelworkers marching to the waterfront, Seattle, December 1, 1999
Image of Police in riot gear during the WTO protests, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of State Police and National Guard during the WTO protests, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Union Way street sign at WTO protests, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Environmental march at WTO protests, Seattle, November 29, 1999
Image of Labor union rally at Memorial Stadium, Seattle, November 30, 1999
Image of Queers Fight the WTO flier, November 1999

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