After getting a black-eye for how it handled the WTO protests on Tuesday, the city's Mayor Schell and Chief of Police Stamper decided to clamp down hard on all protests. Declaring a curfew from 7:00pm to 7:30am, they also decided to implement a "no-protest" zone around the Convention Center (site of the WTO). The mayor went on TV to tell the citizens of Seattle what was legal and illegal. According to the mayor, any demonstration/protest that did not have the approval of the city was considered illegal and subject to police attacks.

Interesting statement from a mayor of a city in the "freest" country in the world. What the mayor was saying--and what the rulers of this country would like to be the case--is that unless they agree with what our freedom of speech is saying, they will consider it illegal. So much for the First Ammendment.

VVAW AI has always understood that the so-called freedoms are an illusion in this country and that opposition to the state & imperialism is often considered illegal by state. In the early days of our organization's history, the state often attacked us and sent in agents to try to undermine us--in much the same way they attacked the Black Panther Party. That is why we say: We Are ALL Outlaws in the Eyes of Amerika!

What happened at the WTO was that the people of Seattle, and of the country, got a glimpse of what it will be like under this system as it becomes more desperate to control the frustration, opposition and rebellions of the people. We should not see this as an isolated incident but a practice run on the part of the state and learn from it. We need to study and know the state in order to oppose it.