On Friday, I did not have to teach class, so I went down town. I don't recall much noteworthy, just walking and marching around, until later that evening during the last confrontation with the police. A number of people started marching down Pine Street to confront the police. When it became apparent that the locals, who outnumbered the tourists, had no interest in the WTO. We were instead very pissed off at the conduct of the police and, near the Paramount Theater, we let them know it.
I was the most vocal. I started egging the crowd to hurl all sorts of verbal abuse at the pigs. One dumb bitch, in a Sea Shepard crew jacket (too bad a Macah was present to kick her fat ass), started whining that we were going to ruin Ralph Nader's agreement with city. I told her that I didn't give a fuck about Ralph Nader.* "He doesn't even live hear," I said. Some little prick actually had the balls to start arguing with me, but he scurried off after I told him that I would throw him off the overpass onto I-5 if he didn't shut the fuck up. The residents laughed and told the "tourists" to piss off and go home. Many left at that point. The residents cheered. Now we only had one group of assholes left to deal with.
We amused ourselves at the expense of the police. How often can you get away with spewing vile excrement at a cop? It was a chance to vent.
In response to the taunts, which I mostly led, the police line started to advance slightly before stopping. I figured that it was time to split, as there was no way I as going to go to jail, but a couple of kids from Bellevue, who had parked the Z28 about 50 feet away offered me a seat in the back of the hatchback if I was willing to stay and finish my tirade. They were amused by it. I agreed. When it became obvious that I had provoked them to far, I threw myself into the trunk and we drove off. I remember giving the police the finger as the receded into the distance. Fuck them.
(I will note that I did not take part in any class action lawsuit against the city. I gave as good as I got. Consequently, I became too recognizable to the police so I had to stop wearing my favorite hat. Oh well... it smelled like tear gas anyway.)
Anyway, that's pretty much it for my memories of events. One note I would like to make is, contrary to the press and certain activists, there was no leadership of the ant-WTO (let alone the anti-police locals) that was apparent. You would think that after 10 years they accept this, but last Sunday's Seattle Times article makes it clear they do not. Fuck leaders.
Also, most of the looting and vandalism I saw were committed by local street thugs. An IMC broadsheet described a confrontation where protesters were beaten after trying to stop them. The Black Block would move on, but did not appear to be responsible for much damage beyond the vicinity of the Nike store.
Looking back, it's safe to say two things:
1. I had a good time.
2. I'm owed a fish.
3. Globalism can suck my ass.
* Ironically, I have voted for him three times since, but only because it's so much fun to tell Democrats about it.
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