Seattle marks the 25th Anniversary of when We Shut-Down the World Trade Organization
Twenty-five years ago, a global movement called “Globalize Liberation, Not Corporate Power” successfully took mass direct action to shut down the World Trade Organization in Seattle on November 30, 1999. Out of that powerful week of protest, Community Alliance for Global Justice was born. This Fall, CAGJ is involved in co-organizing multiple events to reflect, raise awareness of that historic week, and re-energize for today’s struggles for global justice.
CAGJ is excited to join WA Fair Trade Coalition, MOHAI and others in marking the 25th anniversary of the World Trade Organization protests! Please check back for updates! Email CAGJ if you have events you want to add.
WTO+25 Events in Seattle:
- FRI NOV 29: MOHAI exhibit opens, runs until April 27: Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests
- SAT NOV 30, 12-3PM: MOHAI Opening Day: speaking event & button-making; Free with registration.
- TUES DEC 3, 5:30PM: WA Fair Trade Coalition virtual event: “Seattle’s Trade Legacy: A Journey Through Protest & Power”. Get your tickets.
- WED DEC 11, 6-9PM: MOHAI Curator James Gregory: Join guest curator, Professor James Gregory, filmmaker Jill Freidberg, and Washington Fair Trade Coalition Director Julie Bouanna for a discussion and analysis of the protests and its impacts, 25 years later. Sliding scale tickets.
- TUES JAN 28, 7-9PM: “This is What Democracy Looks Like” Documentary Screening with Jill Frediberg Register for tickets.
- TUES MARCH 11, 6-9PM: Whose Stories? Our Stories! WTO Collective Memory Sharing, Co-hosted by MOHAI & CAGJ.
- SAT March 22, 10am : Protest Art-making with David Solnit at MOHAI; more info forthcoming.
- SAT April 5, 10:30AM: WTO Protest Walking Tour hosted by MOHAI with CAGJ’s Heather Day.
MOHAI exhibit opens, runs until April 27:
Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests
WED DEC 11, 6-9PM
Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: Curator’s Talk
The Battle of Seattle resonated around the world, changing the conversation about the rules of global trade. The five days of street protests reshaped Seattle politics and the city’s reputation. Join guest curator, Professor James Gregory, filmmaker Jill Freidberg, and Washington Fair Trade Coalition Director Julie Bouanna for a discussion and analysis of the protests and its impacts, 25 years later. Arrive early to see Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the WTO Seattle Protests, which will be open before the program from 6-7pm. ASL Interpretation and CART captioning are available during the program. In addition, a limited number of Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. For more accessibility support, email [email protected] two weeks before the program. Sliding scale tickets.
TUES JAN 28, 7-9PM
“This is What Democracy Looks Like” Documentary Screening
At MOHAI: 860 Terry Ave N, Seattle
Join co-producer Jill Freidberg for a screening of This is What Democracy Looks Like (2000). Co-produced by Jill Freidberg and Big Noise Films’ founder Rick Rowley, the documentary weaves the footage of over 100 videographers into a gripping document of what really happened on Seattle’s streets. It cuts through the confusion and tear gas to paint an intimate, passionate portrait of a week that changed the world. ASL Interpretation and CART captioning are available during the program. In addition, a limited number of Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. For more accessibility support, email [email protected] two weeks before the program. Register for tickets.
TUES MARCH 11, 6-9PM
Whose Stories? Our Stories! WTO Collective Memory Sharing
Co-hosted by MOHAI & CAGJ
Facing police repression of nonviolent action, 1999 WTO protesters chanted, “Whose Streets? Our Streets!” Twenty-five years later, veterans of the movement share their vision for how the Battle in Seattle is remembered: “Whose Stories? Our Stories!” Join organizers for a brief tour of the exhibition, followed by an interactive night of first-hand accounts, storytelling, and collective conversation. Check out the exhibit, Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests, starting at 6pm, with a gallery tour from 6:30-7pm. Registration via MOHAI will open soon; for questions, email Heather Day.
SAT April 5, 10:30 – 12PM
WTO Protest Walking Tour hosted by MOHAI with CAGJ’s Heather Day
Remember the Battle for Seattle in 1999? The popular uprising which strategically shut down the World Trade Organization’s meetings in Seattle using creative, non-violent direct action? Re-live that powerful week of street protests and learn about the solidarity if took to defeat the WTO’s radical free-trade agenda. Join Heather Day, CAGJ’s Director, for this special anniversary walking tour of strategic sites of action in downtown Seattle (without the tear gas). Co-hosted by MOHAI, $5 request donation.
Past events:
SAT NOV 30, 12PM & WED DEC 11, 7PM
MOHAI presents Teamsters, Turtles and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests
SAT NOV 30, 12-3PM: Opening day! Join MOHAI to honor the 25th anniversary of the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle and to celebrate the new exhibit, Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests. Enjoy remarks from Heather Day and other protest veterans at 1pm, and drop-in crafts from 12-3pm. Free with registration. A limited number of Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. For more accessibility support, contact [email protected] two weeks before the program.
TUES DEC 3, 5:30-7PM
Seattle’s Trade Legacy: A Journey Through Protest & Power
Virtual event hosted by WA Fair Trade Coalition
This interactive timeline-based event will take you through key moments in Seattle’s fight for trade justice, featuring stories from veteran organizers who led the charge against unjust trade policies. From early resistance to trade agreements in the 1990s, to the groundbreaking WTO protests, and beyond—learn how these pivotal moments shaped the global fair trade movement. Engage with speakers who were on the frontlines and gain practical tips on building movements that inspire change. Whether you’re an activist, student, or community organizer, this event equips you with the knowledge and strategies to keep Seattle’s protest legacy alive in the fight for a fairer global economy. Get your tickets.
