The following is a paid advertisement that appeared in Seattle are weekly newspaer The Stranger on November 23, 2000. It was sponsored by The Asteroid Cafe.

 

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| N30 International Solidarity Day Against |
| Corporate Globalization |

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People of Seattle:

Now is the time to step out into the streets and protest corporate globalization. As Nov. 30 is coming, we have an opportunity to act in unity with those around the world by putting ourselves in action. We are citizens of this world, and as such a we are part of a collective. In this collective we are individually and jointly responsible for its well-being.

Great injustices happen everyday, and only through our unified work can we make the changes necessary to rectify them in a sustainable manner. Raising our voices in protest sends a clear message to those in power that we want change, as it inspires others around the world in their own struggles for independence and freedom. Here at home it gives us a sense of empowerment and allows for further networking, education and organization.

The Mayor's office and the Seattle Police Department are attempting to take away our First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and assembly. Do not be fooled. You have the Constitutional right to assemble and voice your opinions. Last year the city, county, state and federal authorities took away those rights; these authorities are on the defense today in a variety of court cases brought by individuals, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Lawyers Guild. To date the City of Seattle has paid out thousands of dollars to individuals who were treated in a non-Constitutional manner.

The recent statements printed in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer on November 16th were designed to discourage you, The People, from exercising your rights to protest. Has the City of Seattle learned nothing?

The World Trade Organization is a non-democratic trade organization which systematically ignores domestic trade laws, environmental issues and human rights. It functions along with the International Monetary Fund and World Bank to protect the interests of multinational corporations. Their decisions are made in private; there is no check or balance on their actions except through our resistance. Our voices are the only deterrent to their policies and decisions that have always favored trade and profit over human rights and the environment. These organizations must be abolished!

This country has a proud tradition of revolution and subsequent protests. Every gain we have made: the abolition of slavery, women's right to vote, the right to unionize, welfare, social security, civil rights and others, has come through mass action and grassroots organizing. People have put themselves on the line for centuries to earn and keep these basic rights and services. We must carry on this tradition of action lest we lose our gains through atrophy.

In the last year we have seen an incredible upsurge in mass protests against the corporate powers-that-be here in Seattle, then in D.C., Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Melbourne, Los Angeles, Prague, Cincinnati and countlesss other places. International alliances are being made by grassroots organizations that are feeding information, analysis and support through independent networks such as the Independent Media Centers throughout the world.

There is anew movement building and we are part of it.

The corporate power structure is not unaware of this movement, and they are trying to stop it. There is a new wave of repressive responses towards speaking and protesting. Government agencies are thwarting the Constitution by banning freedom of assembly. this was the case in the establishment of the "No Protest Zone" in Seattle last year, the illegal infiltration of activist groups documented in Philadelphia earlier this year, the trading of FBI information about protestors internationally in Prague and elsewhere, and the recent equipping of police forces nationally with a whole host of new "less lethal" weapons.

We must challenge their attempts now, in Seattle, or risk further erosion of our rights. If we lose the right to protest, who will advocate for change? The WTO?

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