Certainly they were unprepared for the tens of thousands of people who filled the streets of downtown Seattle. In another large city, like New York or the nation's capital, the scene might have been very different. Law enforcement officers and city officials there see civil disobedience regularly. Although all sides could have handled the situation better, I believe the WTO protests may have ushered in a new era of citizen activism. A new generation of college age students appeared prepared to shed their apathetic image and let their voices be heard in conjunction with a diverse group of labor unionists, environmental and human rights activists.
Protests are a vital part of civic activism in local, national, and international affairs.
It is a sign of changing political times when such protests become more frequent. From April 11-17, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank plan to hold their annual Spring meetings in Washington D.C., and many of the same groups who protested the WTO in Seattle have organized to be there. The scene promises to be calmer, perhaps, than last November if only because the law enforcement there has seen large-scale protests before. The people of Washington DC, however, should look to the effects of the WTO protests in Seattle and be on their guard. Those living just east of downtown had to deal with conflict between police and protesters right outside their doors in the night as well as the din caused by news helicopters circling overhead to cover the action.