THE POLICE CRACKDOWN ON FAIR TRADE ACTIVISTS AT THE FTAA IN MIAMI

Last week labor, environmental, senior, farm and human rights activists gathered in Miami to protest what they say were the undemocratic trade rules being discussed at the Free Trade Area of the America meetings in Miami. Although the groups had obtained permits for peaceful marches and rallies, they say their assemblies were violently broken up by the Miami/Dade police. Using tear gas, rubber bullets, electrically charged shields and batons, police injured hundreds of peaceful demonstrators and bystanders. We got an eyewitness account from WMNF volunteer Bill Hamilton and Eric Rubin of South Floridians for Fair Trade.