A delegate is mauled by protesters at Seventh and Union in downtown Seattle as they try to prevent the man's access to the organization's inaugural session. (November 30, 1999) Before the conference bagan. So much for peaceful protesters.
Security guards inspect a bank window broken during the demonstrations.
A demonstrator proclaims victory after the crowd set fire to two Dumpsters full of cardboard at the corner of Fourth and University. (November 30, 1999)
Chere Madill, 18, has lived on the streets since she recently. She said protestors of the WTO stole her blankets and said really affected her since they were protesting on the streets where she lived. (December 03, 1999)
The protesters
taking over
Seattle's
streets are
unwelcome
visitors
invading Chere
Madill's home. Madill, a slight,
18-year-old hidden beneath her sweat
shirt hood, is homeless. The last few
days, she's been caught repeatedly in the
crossfire between police and
demonstrators, knocked down and
blinded by tear gas as she's tried in vain
to find a quiet place to spend a few hours.
Shelters have been impossible to get to
because of bus service disruptions, hot
meals unattainable because soup kitchens
were closed. "Protesters got in the way of
everything," said Madill. "I hate it. I can't
wait until it's over." Yesterday she found a
moment of peace crouched in front of
Dan and Rey's Market on Third Avenue, a
garbage sack of her belongings on the
sidewalk next to her. As she licked the
filling of her ice cream sandwich, Madill
contemplated the craziness that has
engulfed her world. She knows some of
the protesters have been enjoying the
rallies and marches and mayhem, but "I
bet those people have places to sleep."
Without the shelters, Madill has had to
search at night for a safe nook or cranny
on the street to tuck herself into. The
final insult of the WTO protests came
when demonstrators scattered her stash
of blankets, leaving her without bedding
on a chilly December night. During
Wednesday's demonstrations, Madill
found herself in the wrong place at the
wrong time and was nearly arrested with
a group of protesters. But she knew the
officer and got out of the situation,
though she wasn't sure that was the best
choice. "I almost wanted him to arrest
me so I could sleep in jail and be
warm and get three hot meals."
-- Cherri (sams@brigadoon.com), December 05, 1999.