I think Seattle was a step in the right direction. We’re hoping it will build with demonstrations at the Republican and Democratic Party conventions saying that what America needs is a new direction. We’re encouraging people to join us July 31 in Philadelphia on opening day of the Republican Convention.

The protests in Seattle made fools of those driving the globalization juggernaut. Hell bent on greedy expansionism and aggressive militarism, they were tripped up by 40,000 of us peaceful and orderly citizens from around the world; marching determinedly, linking hands meaningfully.

There was a turning point [in the labor march November 30] when the marshals said, “Go this way,” and it was obvious that the action [the nonviolent civil disobedience] was in the other direction, so some of us broke off and joined our brothers and sisters in the blockade. Because we’re not done—we’re going to continue this coalition [of labor, environmentalists and people of faith.

The gathering opposing the WTO in Seattle opened up an experience and a vision of an alternative society. It opened it up on the streets and on the airwaves, no matter how embattled or what the commentary, and held it open long enough for it to sink in.

It was such a tasty mix of labor and environmentalists, plus church and human rights folks and a lively generational mix of the ’60s folks like me and the ’90s college generation. The big plus was the broad economic justice message, one that rarely gets play in American society. However, the big minus was that both the leadership and participant bases were mostly white people of some privilege. It tells us a lot about our internal organizational failings—and it has to change if we really want to see a vibrant progressive movement in this country.