Lights! Camera! Tear gas! WTO riots to be a movie
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-briefs18.4sep18,1,718835.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Los Angeles Times
IN BRIEF/ NEW YORK
Thousands Rally Against Darfur Violence
From Times Wire Reports
September 18, 2006
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in New York City to protest the violence in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan, and urge world leaders to intervene to resolve the conflict.
U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) said the people of Darfur had had "atrocities imposed upon them" that no human should have to face.
Events for the Global Day for Darfur were held worldwide.
At least 200,000 have been killed in Darfur and more than 2 million have fled their homes since 2003, when ethnic African tribes revolted against the Arab-led government.
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Lights! Camera! Tear gas! WTO riots to be a movie
Full story: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=wto08m&date=20060908
By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV of NEXT
Charlize Theron will
star in the movie directed by her boyfriend, Stuart Townsend.
Stuart Townsend will
direct the movie.
Paul Schell, Seattle
mayor during WTO protests
Norm Stamper,
Seattle police chief at the time
Pat Davis, Port
commissioner, led effort to bring WTO to Seattle
Ben White, led
protesters who were costumed as sea turtles
Madeleine Albright,
then-secretary of state, protests trapped her in hotel
Charlize Theron will play a pregnant bystander who loses her baby in Seattle's
WTO riots. Susan Sarandon may take the part of a newscaster sympathetic to the
protesters.
Former Mayor Paul Schell just hopes the movie re-enacting one of the worst
chapters of his political life tells "the whole story about the 21st-century
Boston Tea Party."
It's true: Academy Award winner Theron is set to star in a major motion picture
about the 1999 anti-globalization protests against the World Trade Organization
that rocked Seattle and put our tear-gas-drenched town in an international
spotlight.
Written and directed by Theron's boyfriend, Irish actor Stuart Townsend, "Battle
in Seattle" is scheduled to start shooting next month -- in Vancouver, B.C,
where Theron was spotted last weekend nibbling on sushi in a trendy restaurant.
"It's going to be the next 'Sleepless in Seattle,' " said James Keblas, head of
Seattle City Hall's film office. "Once you capture a star like Charlize Theron,
you are instantly a big picture."
Keblas said he is working hard to get more of the shooting done in Seattle. But
industry economics, including cheaper labor and other financial incentives, are
driving the production across the border.
Mary Aloe, one of the film's producers, said "Battle in Seattle" will be an
independent film with a budget under $10 million. The crew may spend a week
shooting in Seattle, Aloe said, and Townsend hopes to use real WTO protesters as
extras.
Aloe compared it to last year's Oscar-winning "Crash," in that the script will
weave together the stories of an ensemble cast while dealing with serious
issues.
"The lead characters run from protesters to pedestrians to police to
politicians," Aloe said. "We did not want to give one point of view. When you
see the movie, you'll feel a lot of gray areas. It's neither sympathetic or
unsympathetic to protesters and police."
Theron's character is "really the voice of an outsider and the most relatable
role for the audience because she didn't have any agenda as a protester or
political leader," Aloe added.
Theron won the Best Actress Oscar for depicting a prostitute-turned-killer in
the 2003 movie "Monster." She recently played a mineworker in "North Country."
In 1999, tens of thousands of activists halted the WTO's first ministerial
meeting on U.S. soil. For five days, protests and the police response, including
pepper spray and tear gas, dominated local news and brought downtown to a
virtual standstill.
Political fallout from the event played a part in the resignation of former
Police Chief Norm Stamper and the ouster of Schell, who failed to win
re-election in 2001.
The film will explore the "power of the individual" in the face of powerful
governments and global corporations, Townsend told The Observer, a British
newspaper. He said he was drawn to the WTO protest because it "considers a lot
of issues that were diffused somewhat by 9/11."
News of the film prompted jokes and anxiety among those close to the events.
John Sellers, who was then executive director of the Ruckus Society, one of the
key organizers of the protests, said he'd like to be played by John Malkovich.
City Council President Nick Licata said he'd advise Theron and offered up his
personal cellphone number -- with his wife's permission.
Schell had no comment on who should play him in the movie, but his wife
suggested Robert Redford.
Schell, Sellers and local historian Walt Crowley all expressed concerns about
how Hollywood would characterize the "Battle in Seattle."
For all the drama and conflict surrounding WTO, Schell noted that no one was
hospitalized, and he said the media overplayed the role of rowdy anarchists from
Oregon and "some police overreactions."
Crowley said he was concerned a movie will "overdramatize the berserkers who
eclipsed the fact that 40,000 people marched peacefully to register serious
concerns about globalization."
Sellers said he hopes the moviemakers give a thoughtful portrayal of protesters.
"I think the temptation will be to have the riot scenes be very provocative and
sexy, and I was in the middle of them and they were extremely exciting, but they
were without a doubt brought on by the Seattle Police Department. Except for 50
scary-looking kids from Oregon, the other 50,000 behaved in a real principled
and disciplined way," Sellers said.
Theron's agent did not return a call, nor did Townsend's manager.
"I think it's going to be real difficult in two hours to do a movie that makes
any sense," Licata said. "I'm sure the movie will never touch on the 16 to 20
hours of public testimony we heard afterwards. Man, that was gruesome."
Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com
======================================================================
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======================================================================
For news updates throughout the day, visit http://www.seattletimes.com
======================================================================
Copyright (c) 2005 The Seattle Times Company
www.seattletimes.com
Your Life. Your Times.
============
The New York Times
NEW YORK REGION | September 17, 2006
Day Laborers’ Lawsuit Casts Spotlight on a Nationwide Conflict
By FERNANDA SANTOS
A lawsuit accuses Mamaroneck, N.Y., officials of harassing day workers and rests on the workers’ 14th Amendment claim that they are discriminated against because they are Hispanic.
...The case accuses village officials of harassing the workers as part of a “deliberate and coordinated” campaign to drive them off the streets, and rests on the workers’ 14th Amendment claim that they are discriminated against because they are Hispanic. At the start of the trial, they dropped their original First Amendment claims — that the village had violated their rights to free speech and free association — out of concern that it would force them to reveal their immigration status. The plaintiffs say they are remaining anonymous because they fear retaliation from the authorities. Their lawyer said some of the workers were here legally, while others are not.
“If we lose, the signal that is being sent is that towns and villages can aggressively enforce ordinances in a way that might make it impossible for the day laborers to find work,” said Cesar A. Perales, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. “That’s what’s being tested here...”
==============
The New York Times
NATIONAL | September 17, 2006
In Shadow of 70’s Racism, Recent Violence Stirs Rage
By DAN FROSCH
Navajo leaders in New Mexico are calling for a federal inquiry after a white police officer killed a Navajo man.
============
Los Angeles Times
IN BRIEF/ NEW YORK
Thousands Rally Against Darfur Violence
From Times Wire Reports
September 18, 2006
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in New York City to protest the violence in the war-torn Darfur region of Sudan, and urge world leaders to intervene to resolve the conflict.
U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) said the people of Darfur had had "atrocities imposed upon them" that no human should have to face.
Events for the Global Day for Darfur were held worldwide.
At least 200,000 have been killed in Darfur and more than 2 million have fled their homes since 2003, when ethnic African tribes revolted against the Arab-led government.
=============
This message was sent to you by undisclosed sender,
as a service of The Seattle Times (http://www.seattletimes.com).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Lights! Camera! Tear gas! WTO riots to be a movie
Full story: http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=wto08m&date=20060908
By Bob Young
Seattle Times staff reporter
PREV of NEXT
Charlize Theron will
star in the movie directed by her boyfriend, Stuart Townsend.
Stuart Townsend will
direct the movie.
Paul Schell, Seattle
mayor during WTO protests
Norm Stamper,
Seattle police chief at the time
Pat Davis, Port
commissioner, led effort to bring WTO to Seattle
Ben White, led
protesters who were costumed as sea turtles
Madeleine Albright,
then-secretary of state, protests trapped her in hotel
Charlize Theron will play a pregnant bystander who loses her baby in Seattle's
WTO riots. Susan Sarandon may take the part of a newscaster sympathetic to the
protesters.
Former Mayor Paul Schell just hopes the movie re-enacting one of the worst
chapters of his political life tells "the whole story about the 21st-century
Boston Tea Party."
It's true: Academy Award winner Theron is set to star in a major motion picture
about the 1999 anti-globalization protests against the World Trade Organization
that rocked Seattle and put our tear-gas-drenched town in an international
spotlight.
Written and directed by Theron's boyfriend, Irish actor Stuart Townsend, "Battle
in Seattle" is scheduled to start shooting next month -- in Vancouver, B.C,
where Theron was spotted last weekend nibbling on sushi in a trendy restaurant.
"It's going to be the next 'Sleepless in Seattle,' " said James Keblas, head of
Seattle City Hall's film office. "Once you capture a star like Charlize Theron,
you are instantly a big picture."
Keblas said he is working hard to get more of the shooting done in Seattle. But
industry economics, including cheaper labor and other financial incentives, are
driving the production across the border.
Mary Aloe, one of the film's producers, said "Battle in Seattle" will be an
independent film with a budget under $10 million. The crew may spend a week
shooting in Seattle, Aloe said, and Townsend hopes to use real WTO protesters as
extras.
Aloe compared it to last year's Oscar-winning "Crash," in that the script will
weave together the stories of an ensemble cast while dealing with serious
issues.
"The lead characters run from protesters to pedestrians to police to
politicians," Aloe said. "We did not want to give one point of view. When you
see the movie, you'll feel a lot of gray areas. It's neither sympathetic or
unsympathetic to protesters and police."
Theron's character is "really the voice of an outsider and the most relatable
role for the audience because she didn't have any agenda as a protester or
political leader," Aloe added.
Theron won the Best Actress Oscar for depicting a prostitute-turned-killer in
the 2003 movie "Monster." She recently played a mineworker in "North Country."
In 1999, tens of thousands of activists halted the WTO's first ministerial
meeting on U.S. soil. For five days, protests and the police response, including
pepper spray and tear gas, dominated local news and brought downtown to a
virtual standstill.
Political fallout from the event played a part in the resignation of former
Police Chief Norm Stamper and the ouster of Schell, who failed to win
re-election in 2001.
The film will explore the "power of the individual" in the face of powerful
governments and global corporations, Townsend told The Observer, a British
newspaper. He said he was drawn to the WTO protest because it "considers a lot
of issues that were diffused somewhat by 9/11."
News of the film prompted jokes and anxiety among those close to the events.
John Sellers, who was then executive director of the Ruckus Society, one of the
key organizers of the protests, said he'd like to be played by John Malkovich.
City Council President Nick Licata said he'd advise Theron and offered up his
personal cellphone number -- with his wife's permission.
Schell had no comment on who should play him in the movie, but his wife
suggested Robert Redford.
Schell, Sellers and local historian Walt Crowley all expressed concerns about
how Hollywood would characterize the "Battle in Seattle."
For all the drama and conflict surrounding WTO, Schell noted that no one was
hospitalized, and he said the media overplayed the role of rowdy anarchists from
Oregon and "some police overreactions."
Crowley said he was concerned a movie will "overdramatize the berserkers who
eclipsed the fact that 40,000 people marched peacefully to register serious
concerns about globalization."
Sellers said he hopes the moviemakers give a thoughtful portrayal of protesters.
"I think the temptation will be to have the riot scenes be very provocative and
sexy, and I was in the middle of them and they were extremely exciting, but they
were without a doubt brought on by the Seattle Police Department. Except for 50
scary-looking kids from Oregon, the other 50,000 behaved in a real principled
and disciplined way," Sellers said.
Theron's agent did not return a call, nor did Townsend's manager.
"I think it's going to be real difficult in two hours to do a movie that makes
any sense," Licata said. "I'm sure the movie will never touch on the 16 to 20
hours of public testimony we heard afterwards. Man, that was gruesome."
Bob Young: 206-464-2174 or byoung@seattletimes.com
======================================================================
TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE SEATTLE TIMES PRINT EDITION
Call (206) 464-2121 or 1-800-542-0820, or go to
https://read.nwsource.com/subscribe/times/
HOW TO ADVERTISE WITH THE SEATTLE TIMES COMPANY ONLINE
For information on advertising in this e-mail newsletter,
or other online marketing platforms with The Seattle Times Company,
call (206) 464-2361 or e-mail websales@seattletimes.com
TO ADVERTISE IN THE SEATTLE TIMES PRINT EDITION
Please go to http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/contactus/adsales
for information.
======================================================================
For news updates throughout the day, visit http://www.seattletimes.com
======================================================================
Copyright (c) 2005 The Seattle Times Company
www.seattletimes.com
Your Life. Your Times.
============
The New York Times
NEW YORK REGION | September 17, 2006
Day Laborers’ Lawsuit Casts Spotlight on a Nationwide Conflict
By FERNANDA SANTOS
A lawsuit accuses Mamaroneck, N.Y., officials of harassing day workers and rests on the workers’ 14th Amendment claim that they are discriminated against because they are Hispanic.
...The case accuses village officials of harassing the workers as part of a “deliberate and coordinated” campaign to drive them off the streets, and rests on the workers’ 14th Amendment claim that they are discriminated against because they are Hispanic. At the start of the trial, they dropped their original First Amendment claims — that the village had violated their rights to free speech and free association — out of concern that it would force them to reveal their immigration status. The plaintiffs say they are remaining anonymous because they fear retaliation from the authorities. Their lawyer said some of the workers were here legally, while others are not.
“If we lose, the signal that is being sent is that towns and villages can aggressively enforce ordinances in a way that might make it impossible for the day laborers to find work,” said Cesar A. Perales, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. “That’s what’s being tested here...”
==============
The New York Times
NATIONAL | September 17, 2006
In Shadow of 70’s Racism, Recent Violence Stirs Rage
By DAN FROSCH
Navajo leaders in New Mexico are calling for a federal inquiry after a white police officer killed a Navajo man.
============
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