Seattle police charge as protesters challenge curfew

National Guard troops head to city

SEATTLE (CNN) -- Minutes after a dusk-to-dawn curfew took effect, Seattle police in body armor and riot gear fired tear gas into crowds and charged demonstrators who refused to leave the downtown area of the city.

Mayor Paul Schell imposed the curfew from 7 p.m. to daybreak on downtown districts after violent clashes during street protests Tuesday scuttled the planned opening ceremonies of the World Trade Organization conference.

Police had a blunt warning for curfew violators: "You're going to jail."

"Nobody can be happy about what happened today," said Schell, as he declared a state of civil emergency. "We're doing what it takes to protect the city."

"This is the last thing I wanted to do -- be a mayor of a city where I had to call in the National Guard, where I had to see tear gas in the streets. It makes me sick. At the same time, we have a city that needs to be protected."

Washington Gov. Gary Locke told the same news conference he was mobilizing 200 National Guardsmen to serve in a support capacity, beginning Wednesday. 

He said they would be unarmed and "You may not even see them, but they will be there."

Officials said police from other cities in Washington also would be coming to help.

President Bill Clinton is scheduled to address WTO trade ministers Wednesday. He was due to arrive in the city at 1 a.m. (4 a.m. EST).

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart, speaking from Air Force One, told reporters, "We are going to Seattle tonight. Rumors to the contrary are untrue."

Iowa governor dragged from mob 

"If we really want to see change, those of you who are asking for it, we need to give them a chance to work on it."

At least 22 protesters were arrested in pre-curfew violence. Six minor injuries were reported, stores were vandalized and looted and sections of downtown were rendered impenetrable hours after the scheduled start of the international trade conference. The conference attracted 6,000 delegates from 135 countries.

The protesters -- environmental activists and other more radical demonstrators who are demanding the abolition of the WTO -- tried to prevent delegates from leaving their hotels, blocked access to conference facilities and spray-painted walls and police cars with anti-WTO graffiti.

Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, trapped in a screaming mob as he headed to a WTO meeting, was dragged to safety by bodyguards as protesters pummeled a state trooper bending over Vilsack to protect him.

"It was a little bit more frightening than the earthquake I was in," Vilsack said. "You could see the faces of people screaming at you."

The governor said neither he nor security aides were injured, but he was shaken by the events.

Mayor: Most demonstrators nonviolent 

The plenary session at the main convention center was delayed, but did take place. And WTO officials said negotiations were being conducted despite the unrest.

The disturbances, which covered a several-block area near the main convention hall, started hours before a march sponsored by the AFL-CIO saw 20,000 labor activists walk from Memorial Stadium to the downtown area.

About 5,000 to 6,000 people participated in morning street rallies before the violence broke out, police said. Mayor Schell said most demonstrations were non-violent.

"But once people crossed the line and started disrupting the peaceful demonstrations, they harmed not only the city, but the people making those protests.

"Do I wish things turned out differently today? You bet," he said.

Slogans: 'WTO Hell no' and 'Green Backs Unite'

Protesters smashed downtown windows at a McDonald's, an FAO Schwartz toy store, a Joan and David shoe store and a bank. "Barbie Kills" was sprayed on a toy-store window full of Barbie dolls.

Protesters carried placards inscribed, "WTO Hell No," "America Repent," "Trust Jesus" and "Green Backs Unite."

Many protesters wore gas masks or scarves over their faces to help them breathe after police began spraying.

Police tactics

A demonstrator climbs through the window of a downtown Seattle Starbucks Coffee shop after smashing it with a garbage can

Police at first said only pepper spray was used against the protesters, but Chief Norm Stamper later confirmed tear gas also had been fired into their ranks.

"Warnings were administered," Stamper said. "This gas is more than inconvenient. It really hurts, it stings, and it's intended to drive people away in a potentially violent situation."

Later, he said, "We are using a variety of non-lethal tactics ... But the kinds of weapons we are talking about are not to be taken lightly."

As officers sprayed the protesters with fire extinguishers and fired tear gas canisters, protesters picked up still-smoking canisters and threw them back at police. In one violent exchange, police hit protesters with billy clubs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.