Dec 1, 1999, 3:15 pm PT: "Shake Your Thang Against Corporate Dictatorship," read the ads for a series of Seattle shows held in conjunction with the arrival of the World Trade Organization in the city the same week. But it was the city that got shaken instead on Tuesday (Nov. 3), as the "Battle in Seattle" led to Seattle Mayor Paul Schell calling a state of Civil Emergency, with a curfew imposed on the downtown core, forcing the cancellation of Michael Franti & Spearhead, and a performance by the "WTO Band." The band was to feature Jello Biafra, Krist Novoselic, Kim Thayil, and Gina Mainwal at Seattle's Showbox. JAMPAC, the Joint Artists and Music Promotions Political Action Committee co-founded by Novoselic, was one of the show's sponsors. The Tuesday night show was one of two benefitting the Institute for Consumer Responsibility. A show held last Sunday (Nov. 28) afternoon, featuring Unwound, Calvin Johnson, Tight Bros. From Way Back When, and the Bangs, was held without incident. But on Tuesday, thousands of protesters jammed Seattle's downtown area, setting up a "human chain" to block delegates from entering WTO events. As the day went on, scuffles with Seattle police led to the use of tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse the crowds, and dozens of buildings were vandalized. By six that evening, it was announced that a curfew would be imposed in downtown Seattle from 7 pm to 7:30 a.m. Wednesday (Dec. 2) morning. According to Sean Haskins, a promoter at the Showbox, 850 tickets had been sold, and around 100 people did turn up at the club. Spearhead hastily arranged an evening of spoken-word at the Central, a club outside the curfew area, for those ticket holders who had turned up. Though the show has been rescheduled for Wednesday evening, a possibility of curfew still exists and protesters continue to march around the downtown area. In addition to Seattle police, a contingent of unarmed soldiers from the National Guard have been brought to the city, and have security a section of downtown as a "protest free zone." – Gillian G. Gaar