Geneva, 21 January 2000

Paul Schell, Mayor
City of Seattle

Dear Mayor Schell:

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) was founded in 1915 to work for world peace based on economic and social justice, on equity and on equality for all. WILPF works nonviolently for world disarmament, full rights for women, racial and economic justice, an end to all forms of violence, and to establish the political, social, and psychological conditions which ensure peace, freedom, and justice for all.

WILPF members around the world participated in peaceful protests against the World Trade Organization ministerial meeting, and dozens of members went to Seattle to join the tens of thousands at the teach-ins, vigils, and marches. In the streets, our members were among the eye-witnesses who observed and experienced the unprovoked violence instigated by the Seattle Police Department against the protesters and innocent passers-by.

Two WILPF members were included in those who experienced particularly harsh treatment. One was blocked from any protest and from using a public phone when she was tear gassed. Another was simply walking down the street to a meeting when she was swept up in a group and incarcerated; for over two days she was denied her thyroid medication. Mayor Schell, these women are both in their eighties!

As you know, there were many people arrested who had nothing whatsoever to do with the protests. There are hundreds of accounts of police attacking defenseless and peaceful people with tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets, much of it at close range and some resulting in serious injury. There are also numerous accounts of police abuse against those inside the jail. We have reviewed your Schell Mail written on 6 December 1999 and are simply astonished at some of your statements.

- "My thanks go to many, many people for their help in de-escalating what could have been a much worse situation."
The only reason that the situation was problematic in the first place was because of the police, who were also the ones responsible for any escalation.

- "In the end, the right to free speech was upheld... and the business of the conference was carried out in full."
The arbitrary no-protest zones and unannounced, unprovoked attacks of the police on peaceful people was a violation of numerous constitutional rights, not the least of which are free speech and peaceful assembly. The business of the conference was delayed by a full day and resulted in no new trade agreements.

- "The purpose is not to point fingers or lay blame, but to understand, to learn, and to move forward."
Our recommendations include a complete review of police tactics and techniques. Those who injured demonstrators should be immediately dismissed. Those who refused to do harm, even under the stress of long work shifts and few breaks, should be acknowledged. As rapidly as possible, 50% of the police force should consist of women, and 100% must receive nonviolence training for crowd control and be taught not to hurt innocent, unarmed people..

- "...our police officers were forced to choose protection of human life over protection of public property."
And they succeeded in protecting neither.

- "...our officers behaved with heroic restraint, professionalism, and courage."
Is this what you call the arrests of innocent bystanders and unprovoked attacks on octogenarians?

- "In fact, the healing is already underway. It began Saturday morning when this whole city poured into downtown to resume the holiday season in full Seattle color."
That you equate healing with consumerism and corporate greed is at the root of the problem.

Mayor Schell, the only injuries to human beings during the WTO ministerial meeting were inflicted by the Seattle Police Department. There is no excuse whatsoever for these acts of police brutality. We hold you and your city adminstration accountable for these utterly inappropriate responses to people exercising their democratic rights.

Please advise us of the measures being taken by Seattle authorities to ensure that such abuse of power will never happen again in your city.

Sincerely,

Bruna Nota

International President

copies to:

Governor Gary Locke President Bill Clinton

Box 0002, Legislative Building The White House

Olympia, WA 98504-0002 Washington, DC 20500

Fx 360-753-4110 Fx 202-456-2883

E-mail: president@whitehouse.gov

Mayor of Seattle Paul Schell

Municipal Bldg; 600 4th Ave, 12th Fl.

Vice President Al Gore

Seattle, WA 98104 Old Executive Office Building

Fx 206-684-5360 Washington, DC 20501

E-mail: mayors.office@ci.seattle.wa.us Fx 202-456-7044

City Attorney Mark Sidran US Attorney General Janet Reno

(c/o Mayor Schell) Department of Justice

Washington State Attorney General 950 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Ste.

4400

Christine Gregoire Washington, DC 20530

P.O.Box 40100 Fx 202-514-4371

Olympia, WA 98504-0100

Fx 360-664-0228