Miami, FL - Massive police presence and unprovoked police violence marked early morning protests today on the streets of Miami. As people marched down Biscayne Boulevard holding signs, banners and puppets, and chanting their opposition to a trade agreement that threatens to undermine the livelihood of people throughout the hemisphere, they were met by aggressive riot police who used weapons such as tear gas, pepper spray, tasers, and concussion grenades in an attempt to disrupt them.

"I saw no justification for the vast array of weaponry used by the police this morning," said Danielle Redden, a legal worker with Miami Activist Defense, on the streets at the time of the altercations. "Without cause, riot police charged the crowd and were literally beating people with clubs as they attempted to march down the street."

Police were seen using electric shields, anti-personnel devices typically used on violent offenders, against activists that were being arrested. "The use of such excessive force is totally uncalled for and an affront to people's right to be on the streets protesting," said Redden.

Miami Activist Defense (MAD), a legal support group for anti-FTAA activists, noted over three-dozen arrests by noon today. Most, if not all, of the arrests appear to be completely unjustified. "In all known instances of arrest during the march, activists were attempting to maintain their position in the streets, exercising their right to dissent," said Kris Hermes of MAD. "At no time did they represent a threat to any people or property."

One of the arrests this morning involved an attorney working with MAD, acting as a "legal observer coordinator" at the time. "While on my cell phone, trying to convey information of a massive police presence approaching the marchers, I was assaulted by a captain and field commander of the Miami police force," said Marc Steier, a National Lawyers Guild attorney working with MAD. "He ripped the cell phone out of my hand, broke it in half and threw me to the ground," continued Steier. "After I sustained injuries from the fall, he and other officers proceeded to place me under arrest."

While events were unfolding in the streets, lawyers with MAD and the ACLU met today with Miami City Attorney Alex Vilarello to express frustration with the unacceptable police practice of creating and escalating conflict with activists on the streets, as well as the pattern of police disregard for people's constitutional freedom from unlawful and unreasonable search and seizure. Also discussed was a request for the withdrawal of spurious charges against activists over the past week.

When police were not violently engaging with activists, they were attempting to invoke the controversial ordinance passed by the Miami City Council last week. In one instance, a protestor was told by police to disassemble a sign that was constructed with PVC piping allegedly out of compliance with the ordinance. In another instance, police forced people to disburse who were lawfully assembled and claimed that people were free to go but must not collect in "large" groups.

"Enforcement of the ordinance has been haphazard and arbitrary at best," said Lida Rodriguez-Taseff, president of the ACLU of greater Miami. "Also, police misunderstanding of the ordinance has resulted in the violation of people's rights."

In other reports, lethal ammunition was seen on the ground, and in at least one case a gun was pulled on protesters in a crowded setting by what appeared to be an undercover police officer.

"In the face of Timoney's continued claims that his police will 'use the utmost restraint,' today's violence is a slap in the face for those who are in Miami to convey their opposition to undemocratic Trade talks," said Hermes. "His actions, in addition to being unnecessary and overly harsh, are the ultimate irony for what is going on in the closed-door meetings of the FTAA," continued Hermes. "The silencing of necessary political dissent is a clear indication of who is being 'served and protected' by police - and it isn't 'the people.'"