Seattle – Despite wind, rain and media warnings to local residents to avoid the congestion of downtown Seattle, thousands gathered in support of Jubilee 2000 last night. Police and officials estimate that the crowd totaled between 10,000 and 15,000 people who had gathered to urge lender countries--primarily the U.S. and Western Europe to forgive the debts of developing nations, debts that are choking these countries.

In a rally at the First United Methodist Church, Baha`i, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Native American leaders, as well as Christians of all denominations, joined for two hours of speeches, prayer, song and dance. The crowd overflowed the sanctuary and a large fellowship hall with closed circuit TV, spilling out into the halls and stairwells. From the blowing of the horn and sprinkling of holy water to a rousing rendition of "This Little Light of Mine" by Sweet Honey in the Rock, the Jubilee 2000 spirit shook the rafters.

The rally concluded with spirited speeches to send the demonstrators out into the cold, rainy night. Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA) referred to Jubilee 2000 as a "brilliant light with full moral authority which has changed even the most jaded of policy makers."

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney spoke of the "fundamental rights of our sisters and brothers as not only a right, but an imperative." He went on to say: "With the help of God, we will bring justice for people around the world."

Outside, thousands of others, primarily those who came to picket the World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting which opens today, filled the street and sidewalks for a solid block. Wearing "No to WTO" ponchos they sang and chanted huddling under umbrellas as they waited for the interfaith rally inside to end and the march to begin.

When interfaith participants filed out of the church and into the street, the rain- soaked environmentalists, trade unionists, and others who had waited the two hours cheered them on. Local officials, Jubilee organizers, and denominational leaders, (including United Methodist Bishop Elias Galvan) led the march down Fifth Avenue nearly a mile to the Exhibition Hall where the WTO delegates were having their opening reception. As John Sweeney, an invited guest at the reception, delivered the Jubilee message to the WTO delegates inside, the marchers surrounded the hall and adjoining stadium complex, forming a human chain outside. Organizers had estimated that 10,000 people would be needed to form a solid chain completely around the area. The larger size of the crowd and Secret Service perimeters required that the "chain" double and triple back in many spots to make it possible for all participants to join hands.

The interfaith rally and march may not have brought lender nations to forgive the debts of developing countries, but it certainly got their attention. And the 15,000 in Seattle, added to the thousands of Jubilee marchers throughout Europe and other countries, just might eventually lead to the reduction of the death of babies -babies who die because their countries are forced to put precious resources into debt payments instead of human services.

When the march ended, as peacefully as it began, one burly union member was overhead saying, "Hey, what's with the hands? This is the first demonstration I've been to where we hold hands!" Then he walked into the night with a huge smile on his face.

November 29, 1999