DC Protests!

["James M. Blaut" <70671.2032@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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From:   Socialist/Radical Geography, INTERNET:LEFTGEOG@xxxxxxxxxxx
To:     , INTERNET:LEFTGEOG@xxxxxxxxxxx

Date:   4/17/100  9:02 AM

RE:     DC Protests!


Hi all, its carole gallaher here.  Since i'm living in DC I thought I'd
send along some info on the protests that are going on.  I'm not sure of
the level of coverage they are getting outside DC, but they've reshaped
this otherwise uptight city, at least for a couple of days!  City and
Federal workers who are not 'essential' are being instructed to stay home
today!

On Saturday night (the day before the IMF/World Bank meetings) protestors
began to filter downtown.  Things have been going on all week, but this was
the beginning of the "Whose streets?  Our Streets!" part of the
protest--designed to block delegates from getting to the meetings.  They
were being peaceful, chanting slogans, and what not.  They were in no way
being violent.  Shortly after they arrived, the police put up barricades
around a several square block radius at the epicenter of the protests, and
then promptly arrested the 600 people inside.  Although the police chief of
DC (Chief Ramsey) did not say this publicly, newscasters, and 'associates'
of his reported that he was trying to send a message to protestors that
this would not be another Seattle.   Most people were detained over night
and well into Sunday.

On Sunday morning the cops closed off a 40 square block perimeter of
streets downtown.  This was presumably for the protestors, but they had
already barricaded several blocks around both the IMF and World Bank
buildings in order to keep protestors well away from the meetings.  They
then secured an artery road to get delegates in.  Thus, the protestors were
unable to close down the meetings like they did in Seattle.  Of course,
this shouldn't be suprising given the virtual shut down by the police, and
since the Seattle police were here in DC last week helping with 'training.'
So much for public space.

Despite this, the protest were strong and I thought very powerful.  The
local news and the police dept. are reporting that there were 10,000 people
in attendance.  This is, as usual in these situations, a drastic
undercount.  There were probably 10,000 at the Ellipse alone (where the
'sanctioned' protest was). Tthere were large masses of protestors througout
the 40 square blocks they closed down.  If I had to estimate I'd say at
least 50,000.   Mostly the protests were peaceful--only 20 people were
arrested, although police did spray pepper spray on protestors deemed too
'rowdy.'  One person was also trampled by a police horse when they tried to
open up Constitution Ave. for traffic.

At the Ellipse Michael Moore spoke, as did several activists from countries
directly affected by the IMF/World Bank policies, includintg the
Phillipines and Nicaragua.  There was also a strong union presence.  I saw
people with UAW, SEIU, and Steelworkers t-shirts.  The anarchists were also
in abundance, wearing goggles to protect from the pepper spray that police
were using sporadically throughout the day.  There were also tons of
environemntal groups, most noticeably the 'Sea Turtle' constituency.
Although most groups were what you might say traditionally 'left,'  I did
spy a few right wing groups, including reps for Pat Buchanan and a group
who were linking the cancellation of debt to pro-life causes.

Today things are stirring up again.  The morning commute was apparently
hell, and today might prove to be less peaceful than yesterday.  We'll see.

from the swamp that is your nation's capitol,
carole gallaher
american university




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Reply-To: Socialist/Radical Geography <LEFTGEOG@xxxxxxxxxxx>
Sender: Socialist/Radical Geography <LEFTGEOG@xxxxxxxxxxx>
From: Carole Gallaher <caroleg@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject:      DC Protests!
To: LEFTGEOG@xxxxxxxxxxx