November 22, 2003 Saturday

HEADLINE: Anti-globalization arrests swell -- despite end of trade meetings

BYLINE: CARLOS HAMANN

DATELINE: MIAMI, Nov 21

BODY:
Police arrested more anti-globalization protesters Friday, although ministers that arrived to work on a hemispheric trade accord had already left, one day ahead of schedule.

Miami police said that since Monday they had arrested about 220 activists who had been protesting work on an agreement to create a Free Trade Area of the Americas.

The bulk of the protesters were detained after clashing with heavily armed riot police Thursday, before and after an estimated 25,000 members of the AFL-CIO, the country's labor umbrella organization, marched against the trade agreement.

About 75 more were arrested late Friday, Miami-Dade police spokesman Joey Giordano said.

Most were detained as they held a rally in solidarity with their arrested comrades outside the county jail.

Hundreds of riot police standing shoulder to shoulder confronted the group, and moved in after the protesters ignored an order to disperse.

"It was a peaceful thing," said Giordano. "But a few bad apples in the group had wrist rockets." Officers saw some activists collecting rocks, though Giordano acknowledged that none were fired.

Trade ministers of countries seeking to negotiate the sweeping hemispheric trade deal announced late Thursday that they had reached agreement one day ahead of schedule -- albeit on an accord that fell far short of its ambitious billing.

But riot police strapped on their heavy body armor again Friday and stood guard in front of the swank seaside Intercontinental Hotel, where the ministers had been meeting.

Hundreds of officers, armed with pepper spray canisters and shotguns that fire rubber bullets and bean bags, marched in columns two deep and stood in front of the tall metal fence surrounding the hotel.

Activists were livid at the overwhelming police presence.

"On behalf of the 13.1 million members of the AFL-CIO, I am here to say that we're outraged at the city of Miami and the police," said labor representative Ron Judd, speaking at an impromptu press conference.

"We stand in solidarity with all those detained here," he said. About 250 activists assembled at the event cheered loudly.

Although there might have been isolated incidents of violence, "that certainly doesn't justify the immense show of force and the widespread arrests," said Brenna Bell, a lawyer for the activists.

Activist Medea Benjamin linked the Miami police actions to the occupation of Iraq, noting that local officials received 8.5 million dollars for FTAA policing that was part of the 87.5-billion-dollar military and aid package for Iraq and Afghanistan.

Behind her an activist waved a sign that read "Timoney-Bush, police state, Miami to Baghdad," referring to Miami Police Chief John Timoney.

Police crowed about their success.

"Law enforcement showed great control while large, violent groups threw rocks, paint, gas canisters, smoke bombs and fruit at them," police said in a statement, commenting on the events Thursday.

"These groups started several fires throughout the area, but all their attempts to disrupt scheduled protest and FTAA events failed."

Two officers had been slightly injured.

Police said they confiscated bottles of urine and human excrement, rubber sling shots, marbles, box cutters, knives, nuts and bolts from the protesters.

"The vast majority of people that live in this community are happy with the results," Miami police director Carlos Alvarez told reporters.

ch/jlp

LatAm-FTAA-trade

LOAD-DATE: November 22, 2003