An overcast sky and coat-flapping wind didn't keep the more than 50 demonstrators from a "Stop the FTAA" rally yesterday at Mellon Square, Downtown.
The rally was organized by members of the Thomas Merton Center and the United Steelworkers of America.
Protesters are angry about ongoing discussions leading to the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas agreement.
Thirty-four countries, including the United States, have started working toward an agreement in which barriers to trade and investment among North and South American countries, excluding Cuba, would be progressively eliminated.
An agreement is scheduled to be reached by 2005.
The agreement "allows corporations to have more rights than governments," said Brian DiPippa, 17, a junior at Keystone Oaks High School who was among yesterday's demonstrators.
DiPippa said he believes the agreement would discard workers' rights and ensure profits for the wealthy.
Protesters yesterday held signs that read, "Bush Lies!" and "Class War: The Real War Against Terrorism!"
Tim Vining, executive director of the Merton Center in Garfield, said 200 demonstrators are planning to go to Miami to protest FTAA talks slated for Thursday and Friday.
"The issue of trade is off the radar screen of most Pittsburghers," Vining said. The trade agreement "could erase gains local [workers] have made."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M. Ferguson Tinsley can be reached at mtinsley@post-gazette.com or 724-772-0167.--
FAIR USE NOTICE: This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. NoNonsense English offers this material non-commercially for research and educational purposes. I believe this constitutes a fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S.C § 107. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner, i.e. the media service or newspaper which first published the article online and which is indicated at the top of the article unless otherwise specified.