More Than 70 Arrested In Anti-Free Trade Protest; 15 Injured
Talks To Create World's Largest Free Trade Zone Continue
UPDATED: 10:10 pm EST November 20,
2003
MIAMI -- More than 70 demonstrators have been arrested during protests in Miami against free trade talks.
Fifteen people -- three officers and 12 demonstrators -- were reported injured. Riot police fired rubber bullets and used long batons, plastic shields, concussion grenades and stun guns in clashes with hundreds of demonstrators. The clashes came before and after a peaceful march organized by the nation's labor unions against the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (Full Story On Trade Talks.) Thousands of marchers took part. They say the 34-nation Free Trade Area of the Americas would take thousands of jobs to other countries, reduce workers' rights by exploiting cheap labor and drain natural resources. Soon after the afternoon march ended, several dozen protesters resumed battling with police. As the protesters were pushed back, some yelled at union members trying to leave the area after their march, imploring them to join the chaos. The union members refused. In a separate protest, a group of self-proclaimed anarchists marched on Miami streets Thursday morning. That group numbered about 100 and was preceded by two banners, one proclaiming, "Capitalism Cannot Be Reformed" and the other saying, "Against All Authority Anarchy is Against The FTAA." Many were dressed in black, and some wore hoods, masks and kerchiefs. They were marching in a disorganized pattern, breaking off into smaller groups and running at some times. They stopped for a brief time and were confronted with a line of police officers. Then the protesters moved on with bicycle police escorting them and set up a sit-in.
 FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS RESOURCES |
Demonstrators, Police Clash
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Fifteen people -- three officers and 12 demonstrators -- were reported injured. Riot police fired rubber bullets and used long batons, plastic shields, concussion grenades and stun guns in clashes with hundreds of demonstrators. The clashes came before and after a peaceful march organized by the nation's labor unions against the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (Full Story On Trade Talks.) Thousands of marchers took part. They say the 34-nation Free Trade Area of the Americas would take thousands of jobs to other countries, reduce workers' rights by exploiting cheap labor and drain natural resources. Soon after the afternoon march ended, several dozen protesters resumed battling with police. As the protesters were pushed back, some yelled at union members trying to leave the area after their march, imploring them to join the chaos. The union members refused. In a separate protest, a group of self-proclaimed anarchists marched on Miami streets Thursday morning. That group numbered about 100 and was preceded by two banners, one proclaiming, "Capitalism Cannot Be Reformed" and the other saying, "Against All Authority Anarchy is Against The FTAA." Many were dressed in black, and some wore hoods, masks and kerchiefs. They were marching in a disorganized pattern, breaking off into smaller groups and running at some times. They stopped for a brief time and were confronted with a line of police officers. Then the protesters moved on with bicycle police escorting them and set up a sit-in. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
