Tom Kertes

I spent the day with my friend Kim and the night with my cousin Aaron. I remember the joyful protests in the morning, before the tear gas. Then the tear gas and the start of the riots. Everything broke down, the downtown became tense and disunity crept in. From bands in the streets and carnival-like celebration of resistance, people standing up for human rights values, to – in minutes – a thick cloud of tear gas, police riots a few blocks from Ron’s apartment and the city deeply divided. All this so Bill Clinton could advance a global neo-liberal agenda. The next morning was the worst, seeing the downtown shut down to “people with signs”. Power pretends nothing.

The police response frightened people in Seattle for years to follow, marginalizing radical politics and furthering the agenda of concentrated power in the hands of the few. This power is used in opposition to the values that most people support. WTO revealed Bill Clinton’s anti-labour agenda. WTO revealed how powerless cities and regions are compared to the power of the federal government and global powers. It also demonstrated the power of the left and showed that we can organize people and demonstrate our power. Capacity was built, but at the high cost of major and hard hitting backlash.

The years from 1999 to 2001 were remarkable as protests against global capital and neo-liberalism expanded. Police responses continued to escalate. Al Gore had to fight for the progressive base, with tens of thousands attending rallies for Ralph Nader and the Green Party. Then the election was stolen. Finally, 9/11 changed everything.

Was WTO only 10 years ago?

It is a positive step forward for low power community radio with legislation moving out of committee in the US House, making it possible to move to the House floor. Legislation is a messy and long process, so there are many more hoops to jump through on this. But it’s great to see the work of Prometheus Radio Project move this legislation through to expand community access to low power FM radio – opening up the airwaves. Check out the report today on Democracy Now.

The United Workers in Baltimore, an organization of low-wage workers that was founded by homeless day labourers in an abandoned fire-house turned shelter, attended community action days and helped lobby for low power FM radio earlier in the year. I took part in the lobbying with the United Workers, which included a meeting with White House staff at the White House. It was exciting to be part of this, and to see how Prometheus Radio Project is connecting community organizations with media activists to expand access and include more communities in low power FM radio. Carl and Veronica spoke on behalf of the over 1,500 members of the United Workers – calling on President Obama to honour his work to include more communities in essential information sharing and cultural building benefits of low power FM radio.

Low power community radio could expand in urban communities if the bill by advanced by media justice organizations passes and is signed into law. This would help communities in a number of ways, including by giving local community leaders ways to address needs and concerns in a community, providing a way for people of all ages to create and share culture and provide essential local emergency responses.

So hats off to Cory Fischer-Hoffman and the rest of the team working on this legislation!