Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 10:36:09 -0400
From: Chuck0 <chuck-AT-tao.ca>
Subject: Seven arrested near World Bank; vandals paint graffiti on highway


The picture of the graffiti is worth picking up a copy or two of today's
Washington Times.

I'm a bit concerned that we are already seeing a repeat of Seattle with
some of the quotes in this article. David Bryden of Jubilee 2000/USAis
quoted: "Our activities here have been legal and peaceful and
nonviolent, [...] But people have strong feelings, and strong feelings
are bound to come out one way or another."

This isn't the first time we've heard representatives from liberal
groups in the A16 coalition passing judgment on the tactics of others.
If they expect us to respect the action guidelines, then they have to
refrain from providing marginalization fodder for the press.

http://www.washtimes.com/metro/default-2000411221111.htm

Seven arrested near World Bank; vandals paint graffiti on highway

April 11, 2000

By Clarence Williams
THE WASHINGTON TIMES 


Protests against international financial groups became unruly yesterday
as seven demonstrators were arrested after blocking traffic near the
World Bank and others spray-painted graffiti across portions of the
Whitehurst Freeway. Metropolitan Police yesterday closed streets around
the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) after
protesters there chained themselves to a rental truck and hampered the
morning rush-hour commute.

"As a result of this, we've decided to close off and/or restrict traffic
around the IMF building," said police spokesman Sgt. Joe Gentile. "This
could be expanded depending upon prevailing circumstances."

The closed roads — 19th Street NW between G Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue, and H Street NW between 18th and 20th streets —snarled the
afternoon commute, causing lengthy backups and delays.

Police said the streets will stay closed until further notice.

Only pedestrians and authorized vehicles will be allowed in the area. No
pedestrians will be allowed in front of the World Bank or IMF building.

"I'm certain this will cause a disruption to traffic and an
inconvenience to motorists," Sgt. Gentile said, adding that police
officials hope the public will understand.

The protesters said yesterday's events are only the beginning. Their
so-called "Days of Action" demonstrations will continue this week and
culminate Sunday and Monday, when as many as 10,000 activists will use
"large-scale, nonviolent direct action" in an attempt to shut down
scheduled meetings of the World Bank and IMF.

The protests began over the weekend, including Sunday's event in which
activists formed a human chain around the U.S. Capitol. Yesterday, D.C.
police formed a chain of their own as they lined the entire block around
the IMF building.

Demonstration organizers have met with police officials and assured them
their activities will be peaceful, but police are concerned that "fringe
groups" may cause disruptions.

Yesterday, vandals spray-painted an anti-World Bank message across a
75-yard stretch of the Whitehurst Freeway in Northwest.

The graffiti reads: "Outlaw Bankers Cancel All Debt Question Property
Rights Destroy Boundaries Write Everywhere Drain Bankers' Blood in the
Potomac Freedom Begins where Debt Ends 50 years is enough is not enough
Joel Klein is not enough String Up CEOs with Bankers' Guts."

No arrests were made yesterday for the graffiti, which is spray-painted
on the freeway's on-ramp from the Key Bridge entering the city. D.C.
courts can fine graffiti vandals up to $5,000 and put them in jail for
up to a year.


"It's the first we've heard about [graffiti]. We're not encouraging
people to do things like that," said David Bryden, communications
director for Jubilee 2000/USA, a lobbying group dedicated to erasing the
debt owed by Third World countries.

"Our activities here have been legal and peaceful and nonviolent," Mr.
Bryden said. "But people have strong feelings, and strong feelings are
bound to come out one way or another."


Uniformed Secret Service officers yesterday arrested a pair of
protesters trying to hang a banner above the IMF's main entrance about 8
a.m. The activists, who had arrived in a  rental truck, were charged
with unlawful entry.

Two other demonstrators chained themselves to the truck and three others
on the truck's roof shouted at motorists through a bullhorn. D.C. police
charged the five with failure to obey the lawful order of an officer,
which carries a $100 fine.

Three of the five were released after paying the fine.

Activists said they would use tactics like human barricades and sit-ins
to prevent delegates from reaching the meetings, much like the protests
last year in Seattle during meetings of the World Trade Organization
(WTO). Those protests erupted into violence; more than 580 people were
arrested and more than $10 million worth of property was destroyed.

D.C. police officials have said they wouldn't be overwhelmed like
Seattle police, who imposed a curfew and broke up protests with clubs,
rubber bullets and tear gas. Hundreds of Seattle police, 200 National
Guard troops and 600 state troopers were needed to restore order after
rioting erupted.

The protests provide a test for local police officials, who said they
have learned the lessons of the Seattle riots. Seattle Police Chief Norm
Stamper resigned in December, taking full responsibility for the
violence that disrupted the WTO meeting.

D.C. police accelerated their crowd-control training so that 1,500
officers would be ready with $1 million of new equipment, such as
helmets and chest pads.

Officers are scheduled to work 12-hour shifts and "the entire department
will be activated," though patrols in other areas of the city will
continue, Sgt. Gentile said.

Groups opposing the World Bank and IMF represent a variety of causes:
the environment, labor, human rights, peace, anti-global capitalism and
debt-reduction for poor nations.

Protest targets in Washington include the World Bank and IMF buildings,
the White House, Capitol Hill, the State Department and the Treasury
Department.

The State Department has declared the World Bank and IMF buildings
"temporary diplomatic missions," placing them under the protection of
the Secret Service as well as the Metropolitan Police Department.


<< Chuck0 >>

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