Police, Trade Protesters Clash in Miami (Typical Punks getting 'proper' Police treatment)

Yahoo ^ | 11/20/03 | MIKE SCHNEIDER

[finnman69]

By MIKE SCHNEIDER, Associated Press Writer

MIAMI - Officers and hundreds of demonstrators clashed Thursday near the site of talks to create a free trade zone for North and South America. Police blanketed downtown, remembering trade-related riots in other cities.

Officers clad in riot gear used long batons to restrain protesters, some of whom wore surgical masks or bandannas across their mouths. Other demonstrators carried gas masks. Some tried to pull down restraining fences with large hooks.

Meanwhile, AFL-CIO organizers planned a noontime rally that they said should include more than 10,000 protesters against the proposed 34-nation Free Trade Area of the Americas. They pledged that it would be peaceful.

Officers were using their batons mostly to push back the roughly 1,000 militant protesters, but occasionally used them to strike demonstrators. The confrontation, which continued throughout the morning, was a few blocks from the hotel where the trade meetings were being held. An unknown number of demonstrators were arrested.

In a brief flareup, gas that smelled like rotten eggs was fired by police. A protester scrambled forward and tossed back a canister.

Still, many other protesters kept the peace, carrying puppets, holding signs and chanting, "This is what a police state looks like." One stood in front of the officers waving an American flag.

"At this point, we are holding strong," police spokesman Jorge Pino said at late morning. "We're basically trying maintain the peace downtown, but there are some individuals that are unfortunately trying to disrupt our efforts."

Protester Joshua Xander, 21, of Cincinnati, said the police are "totally doing what they feel necessary. We are doing what we think is necessary — conflict of interests." He was tapping on an African drum.

On Wednesday, negotiators approved a draft text of a free trade pact, choosing a version that allows countries to opt out of more controversial clauses of the agreement. Trade ministers were to spend two days working to finish the text, which so far speaks in generalities.

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick denied that the United States was backing away from creating an agreement that would tear down all trade barriers from Alaska to Argentina, which was how the FTAA was originally conceived. He called the buffet comparison inaccurate.

"I look at it as a full-course dinner, but each country has to decide how much to eat with each course," he told business leaders.

Critics of free trade agreements say they take jobs from American workers, exploit workers elsewhere and lack safeguards such as environmental standards.

Near the hotel where the trade ministers were meeting Thursday, several hundred protesters gathered at the fence that blocked them from getting closer. They held colorful signs with slogans such as "Corporate Greed" and "FTAA Contaminates Fish."

Police had escalated their street presence because of violent demonstrations and vandalism at similar free trade meetings, including five days of riots during a 1999 World Trade Organization (news - web sites) meeting in Seattle.

Parts of downtown Miami resembled a police state. Checkpoints with armed officers blocked pedestrians without proper credentials on several streets. Squad cars were on almost every block. Troopers searched vehicles before they could move on.

Business owners shuttered their facades.

"Everybody is scaring us. They say there's going to be trouble," said Sami Virani, who was placing plywood in the window of his shop Watch Time. "It's worse than a hurricane."

On Wednesday, police arrested seven people in a vacant Miami mansion who were allegedly had crowbars, metal chains with locks on them, flammable materials, gas masks and leaflets protesting the trade talks. They were charged with burglary.

[finnman69]

The Police are not playing with these punks.

[finnman69]

Police officers wearing gas masks use a high lift protected by riot shields for a high vantage point as during demonstrations against meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Miami November 20, 2003. Demonstrators were confronted by riot police as they approached the hotel where FTAA ministers were meeting.






Miami Police officers are shown after they were hit with an unknown liquid as they attempted to disperse a crowd during demonstrations against meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Miami November 20, 2003. Demonstrators gathered on Biscayne Boulevard to protest against the FTAA.

Miami Police disperse a crowd, using pepper gas during demonstrations against meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Miami November 20, 2003. Demonstrators gathered on Biscayne Boulevard to protest against the FTAA.

An unidentified riot equipped police officer rides on top of an armored personal carrier as he carries a tear gas gun, moving toward the protest site outside the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference area in downtown Miami, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003

Demonstrators confront a vehicle carying Miami Mayor Manny Diaz as they demonstrate at the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 in Miami. Police said they clashed with an estimated 300 to 400 protesters.

Florida Highway Patrol officers wearing gas masks ride towards a crowd gathered at security fences near where ministers of the Free Trade Area of the Americas are meeting in Miami November 20, 2003. Law enforcement agencies expect thousands of demonstrators to protest against the FTAA.

Police in riot gear move forward as they attempt to move demonstrators at the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, in Miami. Police said they clashed with an estimated 300 to 400 protesters.
Demonstrators attempt to pull down a fence while trying to disrupt the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 in Miami.




Demonstrators dressed in black take down orange fencing put up by police as they attempt to disrupt the Free Trade Area of the Americas conference Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003 in Miami.



Protester Jan Orillac (R) lies on the street after he was arrested by City of Miami police officers and a Florida Highway patrolman as demonstrations took place against meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas in Miami November 19, 2003. Law enforcement agencies expect thousands of demonstrators to protest against the FTAA.

Miami Police Public Information Officer Lt. Bill Schwartz shows tire tubes found after seven 'suspected anarchists' were arrested on burglary charges in a vacant mansion formerly owned by the Burdines family, in Miami November 19, 2003. Schwartz demonstrated how the inner tubes could be used as slingshots. Law enforcement agencies expect thousands of demonstrators to protest against meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Anti-FTAA protesters demonstrated earlier in the day against the Burdines department store chain.

Miami Police Public Information Officer Lt. Bill Schwartz shows items found after seven 'suspected anarchists' were arrested on burglary charges in a vacant mansion formerly owned by the Burdines family in Miami, November 19, 2003. Law enforcement agencies expect thousands of demonstrators to protest against meetings of the Free Trade Area of the Americas. Anti-FTAA protesters demonstrated earlier in the day against the Burdines department store chain.

[finnman69]

I love this officer....

BAD MUTHA

[dougherty]

This is just a big game for these kids. And that's what they are: kids.

[Trampled by Lambs]

Can anyone explain to me exactly what it is that they are protesting? Free Trade? Globalization? Aren't these the same people who have bumper stickers that say things like "Think Globally, Act Locally" (or something like that..).

Maybe I'm dense but though I've read a fair amount on this subject, I still don't get what it is they're so updet about.. seriously.

[freeeee]

"The Emporer is displeased with your insolence..."

[Trampled by Lambs]

... ack, my typing is off today...

[Theo]

Great. Dressing up like jihadists. Wonderful.

[freeeee]

Dressing up like jihadists

Yup, lots of that going on.

[Jim Cane]

The Police are not playing with these punks.

The police ARE punks.

[finnman69]

The police ARE punks.

Thanks troll. Go up to one fo these officers and tell him that in person.

[Theo]

Is that guy a protestor or a police officer? He looks "official" and had a gun, but has the head-covering on.

[freeeee]

Amendment I: Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances...unless there's a trade summit in town, in that case we're going to send a battalion of riot police to kick your ass.

[freeeee]

The man in post #9 is most certainly not a protester. Look at his shoulder patch. That, and protesters openly brandishing firearms are routinely shot dead.

[green iguana]

I love this line: "Protester Joshua Xander, 21, of Cincinnati, said the police are "totally doing what they feel necessary. We are doing what we think is necessary — conflict of interests." He was tapping on an African drum."

Don't see a conflict of interest there though - I know lots of cops who like drums...

[Jim Cane]

Go up to one fo these officers and tell him that in person.

What is it that do you expect your ninja wannabee droog buddy to do?

[Freebird Forever]

I love this officer....

Yeah, he's OK
but I like still like these guys from the Genoa G8 summit better.

[finnman69]

I expect the officers to be civil unless you act like one of the punks shown above and break the law. Then I expect you would get get slapped like a sillly little bitch.

[finnman69]

That's called a uniform.