Personal Observations from Washington, D.C.

["Jay Moore" <research@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Just returned early this morning from the major protests in D.C. (which are
still ongoing this morning where the government has apparently cancelled
work for government employees).  There is a lot of press. Below is one of
the better reports I've found (from the overseas media) on the events and
their possible significance.  As usual CNN and the other U.S.-based "free"
press is busy doing damage control and minimizing the numbers, etc.

Early personal impressions --

Lots of youth but also people of all age (don't worry so much any more about
the "revolutionary successors"); Lots of Third World people and people of
color;  Much other diversity (like Seattle);
As has become almost de rieguir lately at protests, very sophisticated
banners and puppets -- works of arts;
Well-planned, executed CDs combined with lots of swirling street action
making life hard for the cops.

Somebody on my bus had a digital camera, and he will be posting his photos
from yesterday's events soon on the Web.  I'll let you all know the URL when
he does.  I'm updating my Web site as fast as possible, too.

best,
jay
http://www.neravt.com/left/

**********

Massive protests disrupt the IMF summit
By Andrew Marshall and Philip Thornton in Washington
17 April 2000

Thousands of protesters flooded the centre of Washington yesterday, seeking
to close down meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World
Bank. Tear-gas was fired in clashes between police and demonstrators as
chanting crowds blocked the streets.

The world's economic policymakers met under siege ahead of what may be a
global financial rout today. US stock markets plunged on Friday as investors
lost confidence in the New Economy boom.

Central bankers and finance ministers tried to carry on as normal and
project a message of confidence. But they met behind a vast, multi-layered
security screen, with roadblocks, wire fences, armoured cars, phalanxes of
police motorcyclists and row after row of helmeted officers.

Scuffles broke out in mid-morning, and tear-gas and batons were used to
disperse demonstrators near the US Treasury building. "The use of tear-gas
is something we don't resort to unless we absolutely have to," said Charles
Ramsey, the chief of police in Washington. He said that worse was expected
and warned people to stay away from the centre of the city. "We expect to
have serious disruptions," he said. The protests will continue today.

Several finance ministers were unable to getto the meeting, and they
expressed frustration and anger with the US authorities for failing to clear
a path through the protesters. "It's surprising that in such a modern
country it's difficult to organise a meeting," said Laurent Fabius, the
French Finance Minister, after trying and failing for four hours to get from
the Watergate Hotel to the IMF. "What's bothering me is we can't do our
job.''

The city, usually quiet on Sundays, echoed to the sound of chants, drumming
and the clatter of helicopters as the protests built through the day. Red
and black anarchy flags flew on streets usually clogged with smartly dressed
politicians. Demonstrators formed human chains and chanted anti-IMF slogans
on Pennsylvania Avenue, outside Kinkead's restaurant where the IMF's top
staff lunch.

The protesters aimed to duplicate their success at Seattle last year,
whenprotests, clashes between police and demonstrators and vandalism shocked
the country and badly disrupted a meeting of the World Trade Organisation.

They come from a wide spread of organisations, united by little but their
opposition to global capitalism. They say the two organisations spread
poverty and oppression through their policies, but they were also
demonstrating on behalf of Tibet, animal rights, the environment, prison
reform and against the death penalty and the embargo on Cuba. One protester,
John Kelly, aged 29, said he became involved through campaigning on human
rights issues. "We started to see the connections between the US and
corporate interests in Latin America and the Caribbean," he said.

Aged anywhere between 20 and 60, the protesters were clad in everything from
suits and ties to hooded sweatshirts with anarchy symbols. Some wore
ski-masks or bandannas; others had gas-masks in case the protests turned
ugly.

"I feel very inspired by what these young people are doing," said Bob
McCormick, a legal observer at the protests and a veteran of the civil
rights struggle and anti-Vietnam war protests.

In pre-emptive strikes, the police closed the demonstrators' headquarters as
a "fire risk" on Saturday, and arrested 600 people, more than were arrested
in five days in Seattle. "I think it was certainly legal, it was certainly
proper, it certainly was preventative and proactive," said the Mayor of
Washington, Anthony Williams.
Ilyse Hogue, of the Mobilisation for Global Justice, one of the groups
organising the protest, said: "No matter how many of us are arrested, we are
resolved to carry our message to the streets."

The ministers and central bankers at the IMF meeting pledged to press ahead
with their work. "We will meet, we will get through this," said theacting
managing director of the IMF, Stanley Fischer.

But even as they met, theworld's financial markets, which have celebrated
vast gains for the past few years, were nervously awaiting the opening of
trading today. Huge declines on Wall Street on Friday wiped a trillion
dollars off the value of stocks.

The Chancellor and the Governor of the Bank of England moved to calm fears
of an imminent crash. Gordon Brown and Eddie George said there was no need
for panic and gave a strong hint that central banks would not cut interest
rates to support the market.

"The general view was that we concentrate on the fundamentals of the economy
and continued stability in monetary and fiscal policy," Mr Brown said.