The 'Battle in Seattle' Returns

by clorenz1 | December 11, 2006 at 12:05 pm

635 views | 0 Recommendations | 0 comments

On Sunday the streets of Seattle were filled with protesters. Many signs were seen mirroring the same ones used in 1999 during the famous demonstrations against the WTO. That year over five hundred people were arrested and the clash gave momentum to a growing world-wide movement against the World Trade Organization, which is still alive today.

This time some of the same people who protested in 1999 showed up in the streets yesterday, however this time they appeared for a re-enactment of the "Battle in Seattle."

The movie is being shot just North of Seattle in Vancouver, BC, however the film's director wanted the protest to look authentic.

Although documentaries were made about the WTO events, this would be the first feature film to tell the story, using fictional characters to represent protesters, police and other major players in the demonstrations.

In his cardboard turtle suit, McFarland, an extra in the production, rubbed elbows with actors such as Outkast band member Andre Benjamin, who also donned a turtle suit, with a hat shaped like a turtle's head. As marchers filed past, Benjamin yelled out, "Teamsters and Turtles together!"

Under sporadic sheets of rain, the volunteer army of extras headed down Fourth Avenue between Vine and Clay streets, pumping their arms and signs emblazoned with phrases such as "Shut down the WTO" or "Stop Corporate Greed." Meanwhile, an actor with a bullhorn riled them up, yelling about "corporate conquistadors."