Officers escort protesters on a nonviolent march through the streets of Seattle

December 2, 1999
Web posted at: 7:21 p.m. EST (0021 GMT)

In this story: Protesters get police motorcycle escort Protesters: Police violated pact Chief: Officers did 'heroic job' Mayor: Time to start healing city RELATED STORIES, SITES

SEATTLE (CNN) -- In addition to hundreds of very visible Army National Guard troops called-up because of the civil disturbances in Seattle, more than 160 active duty military personnel, including a small number of Special Forces troops, were sent to Seattle by the Defense Department for the meeting of the World Trade Organization.

VIDEO Demonstrators come from various walks of life, as CNN's Don Knapp reports. (December 2) Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K Correspondent Charles Feldman compares protests of the past with the anti-WTO demonstrations in Seattle (December 1) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K To view the latest video streams on the WTO conference and protests, use the arrow buttons below to scroll through the video gallery.    Windows Media Real    28 K 80 K     RESOURCES What's the big deal about the WTO? CNNfn Special Report: WTO meeting     Image Gallery WTO protesters and police clash in Seattle     QUICK VOTE Vote on the U.S. actions regarding the WTO How do you think the violence in Seattle will affect the cause of the WTO protesters?     ALSO WTO protests awaken '60s-style activism Editorials: Chaos at WTO talks reflects public mistrust Seattle protests seen through other eyes     MESSAGE BOARD WTO

The military mission, according to the Pentagon, is to "provide support" to the FBI, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Secret Service and other government agencies responsible for security there. The military specialists are in place largely to provide expertise and assist in coordinating a federal response in the event of a terrorist attack during such a high-profile event.

According to Defense Department documents obtained by CNN, 131 U.S. Army, 27 U.S. Air Force, and eight U.S. Navy personnel were sent to Seattle to perform roles from ordnance disposal to standing by for possible chemical or biological attack by terrorist groups.

Four special forces troops from the Joint Special Operations Task Force were deployed to Seattle to be on hand to advise FBI "crisis support" agents in the event of a catastrophic terrorist event involving chemical or biological weapons or hostage taking. Two of the four special operations experts have since left the city, according to an informed Pentagon official who spoke on the condition that he not be named.

Fifty-five military Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) teams, along with 25 explosive-detecting dogs and their handlers, were sent. The soldiers are "operating in civilian attire -- keeping a low presence," the Defense Department documents say.

Troops there are from various military fiefdoms including the U.S. Special Operations Command, the U.S. Forces Command, the U.S. Army Biological-Chemical Command, the U.S. Air Force Security Forces Command and the U.S. Joint Forces Command.

Eight divers, making up two Navy dive teams, were sent to provide support to the Secret Service for President Clinton's visit, which ended Thursday. The action is not unusual for presidential security.

The Department of Health and Human Services and FEMA have set up a "staging area" for their operations at the U.S. Naval Reserve Center-Lake Union in Seattle. Eight military personnel are assigned to that site. The HHS-FEMA site is pre-positioned to respond to major health catastrophes such as a biological agent attack, according to a well-informed source.

The "Domestic Military Support," or "DOMS" as it is known at the Pentagon, is provided through the Office of the Secretary of Defense and the Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the request of other federal agencies.

Meanwhile, Seattle Mayor Paul Schell said Thursday there is no "battle in Seattle," and police motorcycle officers escorted approximately 400 demonstrators on a march toward the "no protest" zone near the WTO conference.

The marchers held hands, sang and carried signs.

It was a turnabout of tactics by police, who had clashed with demonstrators for the past two nights in the downtown area.

But Schell said the primary goal of authorities was still to "regain and maintain peace in our city."

"Until we can restore peace, we are still in a state of civil emergency," Schell said. "This is not business as usual."

The 24-hour-a-day curfew in the 46-block area surrounding WTO meeting venues remains in effect until midnight Friday, after the conference ends.

However, Schell said protesters with permits will be allowed to demonstrate.

"If you are protesting lawfully, the police will allow you to do so," he said.

The curfews imposed this week apparently are the first in Seattle since the Army ordered Japanese citizens off the streets in World War II.

The mayor said nearly all of the 30,000 protesters demonstrated peacefully. But he said when the few troublemakers acted up, authorities had to react to protect lives.

"We are a city that holds the right to free speech in a very high regard," Schell said. He urged all demonstrators to cooperate with police.

Thursday's march was organized by Direct Action, one of a number of protest groups. Long-time activist Tom Hayden was among the marchers.

At a news conference held at Seattle Central Community College, where the marchers began their demonstration, members of several groups, including the Ruckus Society, the Rainforest Action Network, the Committee to Free Tibet, and Direct Action vowed to continue demonstrations.

John Goodman of the United Steelworkers of America -- one of the groups that has participated in peaceful demonstrations - - said police fired tear gas without provocation. "I've witnessed things in the last four days that I didn't believe could happen in America," he said.

Han Shan of the Ruckus Society said Seattle police had violated an agreement, reached through weeks of negotiation with his group, to "peacefully arrest" peaceful demonstrators.

"The commitment by the Seattle Police Department to undertake peaceful arrests of peaceful protesters ... has been violated," said Shan.

Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper praised his officers for doing a "heroic job -- against all odds." He said they were working in chaotic conditions while trying to maintain public safety. The chief said safety was the reason officers would give orders for protesters to disperse.

Stamper acknowledged that to enforce those orders, police used pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets. About 500 people have been arrested since protests turned violent on Tuesday, police said.

Both the chief and the mayor insist it would have been a mistake to have called in the National Guard before trouble erupted. They said it would have turned the city into an "armed camp," required many more military personnel and set the wrong tone.

Schell acknowledged that many residents were upset by the clashes in the city.

"It's time for us to start the healing process," he said.

"There are a lot of angry people in our city today. There are angry people who have been in protest and felt they've not had a chance to be heard, or were denied a place to protest. There are angry people who've sniffed gas or have been pepper sprayed -- a lot of them innocent. And for them I apologize," the mayor said.

Meanwhile, a spokeswoman for the Downtown Seattle Association said this week's disturbances will cost some 2,500 city merchants and property owners "in the millions range."

Association marketing director Lucinda Payne added: "That's just the physical damage -- the broken display windows, spot looting, and the horrific graffiti."

Payne said later that lost sales were estimated at $7 million.

Clinton on Wednesday condemned violent protesters but said demonstrators who came peacefully should be allowed to make their point.

The president later called on the WTO to open its deliberations to include the concerns of the demonstrators who have besieged the WTO meeting.

Before leaving the city Thursday, Clinton signed a treaty that bans the worst forms of child labor. The march began shortly after his plane left for Philadelphia.

The WTO is an international organization of 135 countries. Its trade agreements govern most international trade.

The Seattle meeting is intended to set an agenda for the "Seattle Round" of trade talks toward a new international trade agreement.

National Security Producer Chris Plante, Correspondent Rusty Dornin, The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.

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