Join us in Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the battle of Seattle!

Please note this event information is subject to change and will be updated regularly.

• Through April 27th 2025: MOHAI exhibit "Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests" — MOHAI Admissions More info
• Wednesday, December 11th 7-9pm: Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: Curators Talk — Sliding Scale More info
• Tuesday, January 28th, 7-9pm: "This is What Democracy Looks Like" Documentary Screening with Jill Freidberg — More info
• Tuesday, March 11th, 6-9pm: Whose Stories? Our Stories! WTO Collective Memory Sharing, Co-hosted by MOHAI & CAGJ
• Saturday, April 5th: WTO Protest Walking Tour with MOHAI and CAGJ 

Past Events

• Saturday, November 30th, 12-3pm: MOHAI's Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: Opening Day
• *Virtual* Tuesday, December 3rd, 5:30-7pm: WFTC presents "Seattle's Trade Legacy: A Journey Through Protest & Power" —Watch Recording
  

Event Details:

• Date: November 29th 2024-April 27th 2025
• Get tickets here! MOHAI Admissions

In late November 1999, the World Trade Organization (WTO) conference sparked one of the largest political demonstrations in Seattle history. The protests rocked the city for a week and cast a spotlight on issues ranging from environmental protection and labor rights to international diplomacy and free speech.

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary, this exhibit guest curated by University of Washington History Professor James Gregory revisits the “Battle of Seattle” through key artifacts, immersive images, and powerful statements from the people who were present.

From the origins of the WTO to the legacy of these events on activism, policing, and global trade policy, visitors are invited to consider multiple perspectives and reflect on their relationship to democracy—an issue at the heart of the WTO protests of continuing relevance today.

Event Details:

• Date: Wednesday, December 11th
• Time: 7-9pm
• Get tickets here! Free-$50

The Battle of Seattle resonated around the world, changing the conversation about the rules of global trade. The five days of street protests reshaped Seattle politics and the city’s reputation. Join guest curator, Professor James Gregory, filmmaker Jill Freidberg, and Washington Fair Trade Coalition Director Julie Bouanna for a discussion and analysis of the protests and its impacts, 25 years later.

Arrive early to see Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the WTO Seattle Protests, which will be open before the program from 6-7pm.

ASL Interpretation and CART captioning are available during the program. In addition, a limited number of Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. For more accessibility support, email programs@mohai.org two weeks before the program.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, January 28th
• Time: 7-9pm
• Get tickets here! Free-$50

Join co-producer Jill Freidberg for a screening of This is What Democracy Looks Like (2000). Co-produced by Jill Freidberg and Big Noise Films’ founder Rick Rowley, the documentary weaves the footage of over 100 videographers into a gripping document of what really happened on Seattle’s streets. It cuts through the confusion and tear gas to paint an intimate, passionate portrait of a week that changed the world. ASL Interpretation and CART captioning are available during the program. In addition, a limited number of Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. For more accessibility support, email programs@mohai.org two weeks before the program

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, March 11th
• Time: 6-9pm

Facing police repression of nonviolent action, 1999 WTO protesters chanted, “Whose Streets? Our Streets!” Twenty-five years later, veterans of the movement share their vision for how the Battle in Seattle is remembered: “Whose Stories? Our Stories!” Join organizers for a brief tour of the exhibition, followed by an interactive night of first-hand accounts, storytelling, and collective conversation. Check out the exhibit, Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests, starting at 6pm, with a gallery tour from 6:30-7pm. Registration via MOHAI will open soon; for questions, email Heather Day.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, April 5th
• Time: 10:30am-12pm
• $5

Remember the Battle for Seattle in 1999? The historic uprising which strategically shut down the World Trade Organization’s meetings in Seattle using creative, non-violent direct action? Re-live that powerful week of street protests and learn about the solidarity that sparked one of the largest political demonstrations in Seattle history.

Join Heather Day of the Community Alliance for Global Justice for this special anniversary walking tour of strategic sites of action in downtown Seattle (without the tear gas).  Co-hosted by MOHAI, $5 request donation; new registration link soon!

This walking tour requires moving between multiple sites in downtown Seattle, totaling about a mile of area covered over 1.5 hours. For accessibility inquiries and support, email programs@mohai.org

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, November 30th 
• Time: 12-3pm
• Register here! Free with registration

Join MOHAI to honor the 25th anniversary of the 1999 WTO protests in Seattle and to celebrate the new exhibit, Teamsters, Turtles, and Beyond: The Legacy of the Seattle WTO Protests. Enjoy remarks from protest veterans at 1pm and drop-in crafts from 12-3pm.

A limited number of Assistive Listening Devices are available upon request. For more accessibility support, contact programs@mohai.org two weeks before the program.

Event Details:

• Date: Tuesday, December 3rd
• Time: 5:30-7:00pm PT
• Watch the Recording here 

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the 1999 WTO protests, we’ll explore Seattle's rich history of trade organizing. This interactive timeline event features stories from veteran organizers who led the charge against unjust trade policies.

Learn about pivotal moments in Seattle’s fight for trade justice, from early resistance to the WTO protests and beyond. Engage with speakers who were on the frontlines and gain practical tips for building movements that inspire change.

Whether you're an activist, student, or community organizer, this event will equip you with knowledge and strategies to keep Seattle’s protest legacy alive in the fight for a fairer global economy.

We look forward to seeing you there!