Demonstrators, including the writer (second from right, bottom row)  block the front entrance to the negotiations site.  Photos: Diana Alfanash

Agreement culminated on Sat., Sept. 9 with a day of events, including a civil disobedience action at the negotiations’ site.

 

As the final day of negotiations was beginning 15 demonstrators, including the writer, were arrested after blocking the front entrance of the building and demanding to enter. Simultaneously, others demonstrated outside the Westin Hotel where members of the South Korean government's negotiations team were staying.

Fifteen demonstrators arrested

After chanting and giving statements in front of the main entrance to the negotiations’ site, demonstrators marched alongside the building to an alleyway through which the negotiators had been entering and exiting throughout the week. The protesters demanded to be allowed inside. That is when the arrests happened.

Among those arrested were nine members of the anti-FTA delegation from South Korea, representing workers, peasants and women's organizations; the other six were from the United States—two staffers from the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and representatives of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Nodutdol for Korean Community Development, Justice Committee and the ANSWER Coalition.

The action was planned to demonstrate the level of commitment that both

Police arrest a South Korean student.

the Korean and American people have to stopping the KORUS FTA. It was also to draw additional attention to the detrimental impact that the agreement would have on both Korean and American workers and farmers.

There was extensive coverage of the arrests in the South Korean media, as well as in local and national press in the United States.

The charges against 12 of the 15 people arrested were dropped later that day. They were released from the local police precinct several hours after being taken in. The remaining three were transferred to King County Jail, booked, and charged with several misdemeanors, including assault and obstruction of an officer.

They were released on bail at around 12 midnight. The three have scheduled court appearances in Seattle.

The city has decided not to file any charges at this time.

After exiting the jail, they were greeted by supporters who had been waiting outside since the end of the day's events. The protesters held a press conference on the political significance of the action and the continuing struggle against the KORUS FTA.

Closing rally and march

In the afternoon, following the civil disobedience action, the remaining members of the anti-FTA delegation from South

A traditional funeral march leads the closing march.

Korea joined with supporters from Seattle in holding a closing rally and march.

Demonstrators gathered at the Federal Building in downtown Seattle. Speakers at the opening rally included representatives of the Korean Alliance Against Korea-US FTA, Korean Americans Against War And Neoliberalism and the ANSWER Coalition.

A march was then held through the streets of Seattle. People marched through the busy Pike Place Farmer's Market for the third day in a row.

The final rally was held after arriving in Victor Steinbrueck Park near the Farmer's Market. Speakers included the twelve people arrested earlier who had been released; representatives of KoA and KAWAN; Cecile Hansen, Chairwoman, Duwamish Tribe; Ricardo Ortega, Comite Pro-Amnistia General y Justicia Social; Dave Freiboth, King County Labor Council, AFL-CIO; and Asha Mohamed, Somali community organizer. The rally concluded with a multicultural drumming performance.