Protesters blocked downtown intersections to prevent delegates from reaching the Seattle Convention Center, and Mayor Paul Schell declare a civil emergency and an overnight curfew as the protests turned violent. Washington Governor Gary Locke also declared a state of emergency and called up unarmed National Guard personnel for duty this morning. Riot police used tear gas, pepper spray and rubber bullets to disperse some of the demonstrators.
See Robert Siegel, All Things Considered, November 30, 1999