Blaine, WA

[Christine Petersen]

This is cool. 5000 people is quite a lot when they are 3000 miles away
from Quebec, and 120 miles from Seattle. I don't know what good blocking
border crossers does though - people should cross the border. Actually,
I've always found that the canadians are the much nicer border agents.
They smile and offer a map, but returning into the US, our agents tend to
search the car or imply that you're lying to them:

FTAA BREAKING NEWS  Apr 21 2001  

 A group of over 5000 protesters have gathered at the Peace Arch in
Blaine, WA; Canadian and US Union members make up approximately half of
the group. Around 2pm, a group of 250-300 protesters broke from the main
rally and marched to the border, circumnambulating the Peace Arch.
Although protesters had not yet occupied the road, Border officials
briefly stopped cars from crossing the border. Police are on site in
considerable numbers, but without riot gear or tear. 
2:30pm: Over 5000 marched through the Peace Arch, crossing the border and
blockading roads in both directions. Northbound and southbound border
traffic are both closed. Thousands are walking through the actual traffic
checkpoints, and back and forth across the border. Police are remaining
calm. 
4pm: A large crowd remains at the border. About 150-200 activists remain
sitting in rows blocking the northbound traffic lane. 
Also, about 1000 people are marching in Portland.