Anti-IMF march loud, but peaceful
By Jeff Barnes and Arlo Wagner THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The chants and demands were lengthy, loud and repetitive, but the demonstrations yesterday against the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund went ahead with few problems.
"There aren't as many [protesters] as there might have been," said Metropolitan Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey, among the officers along the march route from Meridian Hill Park in Columbia Heights to the banks off H Street.
The estimated 800 demonstrators walked down 14th Street, in front of the White House, then to Farragut Square and the World Bank. A few carried upside-down American flags, and one activist carried a flag in which the stars were replaced by various corporate trademarks, including that of McDonald's.
At the intersection of 14th and U streets, the protesters stopped in front of a Taco Bell and urged onlookers to boycott the restaurant chain, chanting, "We don't need sweatshop tacos."
Some among the onlookers took pictures and chanted in response: "We eat Taco Bell."
The D.C. police force was assisted by officers from Capitol Police, U.S. Park Police, Prince William and Fairfax counties in Virginia, the Greenbelt Police Department and Maryland State Police.
There were no arrests, or reports of damaged property or vandalism.
From U Street, the protesters marched south into downtown, briefly stopping outside the Inter-American Development Bank on New York Avenue and the Bank of America at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street before arriving in Edward R. Murrow Park in front of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund headquarters.
Khalid Rosenbaum, a 24-year-old computer technician from Silver Spring, said the rally was much smaller than those he normally attends.
"There's definitely less turnout," he said. "I think most of the people are burned out" from the war protests on Saturday.
While some of the marchers were protesting the war in Iraq, Mr. Rosenbaum said that didn't detract from the anti-globalization message.
"It's like preaching to the choir," he said. "Most of the people who want to shut down the IMF are also against the war."
The closest the demonstrators came to creating big problems was near the close of the five-hour march and protest, when about 200 wearing masks and handkerchiefs over their faces suggested breaking through a row of police and their bikes at I and 18th streets NW.
Marching behind their large banner, saying "Anti-Capitalist Solidarity," they also danced and kicked around a beer can. Leaders had a couple of conversations with police commanders before disassembling peacefully.
In loudspeaker speeches in front of the White House and in Farragut Square, speakers said the IMF and the World Bank cause poverty, hunger and thirst in countries around the world, particularly in Latin America.
"That's why we are in front of this bank, which continues to impoverish the people of South America," said Gustavo Castro of Chiapus, Mexico.
Coca-Cola and World Bank have caused labor problems in Venezuela by trying to get cheap help, which creates more poverty and diminishes social services, said Kathy Kemp, 47, a labor union advocate from Baltimore.
Though the demonstration was aimed at the IMF and the World Bank, almost half the signs and expressions were against the war on Iraq and President Bush.
"Military and CIA destroy Latin America," and "Bush is a War Criminal" were among the signs, several of which included profanities.
People standing along the demonstration route were divided. "Get out of this country," shouted Brian Kalvi, 21, a forest service employee from Los Angeles. "We don't love you. I support our troops. I support my country. They're not supporting our country."
A white-haired woman wearing anti-World Bank buttons said, "I love this country. Look at what is happening. Where else in the world could this go on?"