Annual IMF/WB Meeting to be Met With Grassroots Opposition
Sept. 20, 2002

The World Bank and IMF will be faced with demonstrators from around the country, continent and world again - despite crack-downs on civil rights after 9/11 and mainstream media parroting national interest.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are holding their annual meetings in Washington, DC on the weekend of September 28th and 29th. They will be discussing their development plans and global investment strategy, for the coming year, in shaky geopolitical conditions. The World Bank's own report warns, "environmental problems and social unrest threaten international poverty reduction goals."

Protestors blame the financial institutions' support of unregulated transnational industrial development for compounding the environmental problems, and say the social unrest is in direct response to "structural adjustment programs" imposed by the institutions. (See Argentina and the IMF.) These groups are largely controlled by private elite trade interests. (see Z Magazine's World Bank/IMF Primer & Global Trade Watch area).

Diverse Groups Unite and Converge

The meetings will be met with a local, national, and international response, co-ordinated very loosely through affinity groups. General awareness of the issues and the protest plans, grows through the internet, uniting a broad range of politics against Bank policies. The Anti-Capitalist Convergence, Jubilee USA, 50 Years Is Enough, the World Bank Bonds Boycott group, and the Mobilization for Global Justice are among the groups that have made calls, to show opposition, and to educate re the effect bank policies have on earth's populations and resources. (MGJ demands | ACC demands | Jubilee Proclaims | 50 Years Is Enough platform)

Demonstrators are demanding that Third World debt be dropped, that groups and agreements such as the World Bank, IMF, and the WTO be abolished, that international trade policy be democratized and made transparent, and that local, native, indigenous peoples regain sovereignty over their resources. A common theme is the desire for sustainable economies and social structures with genuinely democratic qualities that operate at a scale that the environment can handle. A variety of events, direct actions, vigils, teach-ins and lectures, have been planned throughout the city.

Trade and War Are the Same Problem

The Independent Media Center has coordinated a film festival. The featured videos include The New Patriots, about the War on Drugs and the School of the Americas, a video on the Housing Rights movement, and a documentary on the Prague convergence, with speakers.

In a "post-9/11 environment," many minorities and activist groups see their freedom of speech, freedom to associate and other rights are threatened by the very government created to protect and promote such freedoms. Some make it clear that they see a connection between authoritarian economic policy and the so-called wars on terrorism and drugs and the aid they brings to paramilitary groups and occupying military forces throughout the world from the United States.

Local Network Affiliates Play Down Message, Play Up Violence

Meanwhile, local media treats the expected insurgence of grassroots opposition to global corporatism and U.S. foreign policy as a seasonal event. While showing clips of past demos and with emphasis on points of violence cited by the police, they fail to report on many of the specific grievances that demonstrators, NGO workers, and organizers present, peacefully, during the major convergences. Rarely is it reported that the movement of dissent against these institutions, had its origins in the so-called "Third World", decades ago.

Internationally, there has been widespread media coverage on Bank policies and global protest, which has forced big summit type meetings into isolated fortresses. (Already there is speculation that this will be the last IMF/WB meeting in the US.) Comment

IMF Pack of Lies
Sept. 25, 2002

Robert Weissman and Anna White of Essential Action, a Washington D.C.-based corporate accountability organization, held a press conference the afternoon of Monday, September 23, 2002, outside the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a report Weissman and White presented their case against trade-liberalization in tobacco, which via the IMF is pushed upon developing nations such as Bulgaria, Mali, Djibouti, Peru, and Uganda, among others. The press conference was held in front of a giant cigarette pack, bearing the phrase "IMF Pack of Lies."

[ video | more]

Police Prepare with Preemptive Threats
Sept. 26, 2002

As the most intense portion of a week of teach-ins, demonstrations and rallies approaches, many signs indicating the police are preparing to use force , possibly preemptively, have been observed. One IMC reporter saw a policewoman checking her large-barrelled gun, most likely either a tear-gas rifle or beanbag gun, outside the 18th street entrance to the World Bank at approximately 10:30 am, indicating that MPD officers have already been issued anti-personnel munitions, at least in the areas immediately surrounding 18th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

More general police operations seem to be oriented around surveiling and observing assemblies of people - such as welcome centers and spokes councils. At least two police officers are confirmed to have lurked at the entrance to last night's ACC spokes council and police were seen unloading heavy gear, including large weapons, at 18th street, not too far from the Indymedia Convergence Center. Reports of several arrests for minor offenses and random street questioning have begun to crop up.

If one report is true, the planning behind these tactics is centralized. Possibly at levels of command of the various Police Chiefs collaborating together. These same authorities who may have a political interest in having events proceed in a certain manner to justify their budgetary and authority requests in the previous months. One eyewitness reported "I talked to a cop this morning. He said that one of the tactics they'll probably use is shutting down random streets near hot spots to all traffic, including pedestrians, to contain protests. He also said, not surprisingly, that they're not being told where they'll be stationed or any kind of real information until they get there tonight."

[ Eyewitness Report | Report from ACC spokes council | DC Justice & Solidarity Law Collective - Compiled Report on Preemptive Arrests ]

September 26 Highlights
Sept. 27, 2002

"The reason we are here is because we are living under a central command economy that has made our nation the poorest nation in Africa, and that economy is being controlled at 1818 H Street in Washington D.C." Demba Dembele, Forum for African Alternatives of Senegal

These opening words were a powerful lead in to an informative day of workshops at the Teach In "Global Struggles Against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund" held in DC on day two, attended by about 400 people. Activists came from Chad, Cameroon, Senegal, South Africa, Columbia, Venezuela, Chiapas, Argentina, et al.

A Tanzanian woman shared a story of devastation she has witnessed. "In my lifetime I have seen rates of literacy go from 85% before structural adjustment took effect, to 40% within only one generation." More

Also, at 11:00am a trojan horse representing the corporate invasion into developing nations in the guise of financial aid, accompanies speakers and an environmental-flag waving audience. Rally by Amazon Watch, Friends of the Earth International, Greenpeace USA, Project Underground, Rainforest Action Network, Sierra Student Coalition, and Sustainable Energy and Economy Network in front of the World Bank. Video 1 Video 2

Finance's Capitol 'Saved' by Agents of PreCrime
Sept. 27, 2002

"there can be no peace in the world until the policies defining the global situation, especially capitalism, shifts." Steven Clapp, Silver Spring, MD

Police instigated fear of property damage and disruption kept many DC workers out of downtown, leaving the streets empty for protestors and Metro Police operations.

The day started out with a variety of autonomous actions by affinity groups during morning rush hour. These were mostly traffic disruptions, using different tactics such as a Critical Mass bike ride, a snake march, sit-downs, and chalking sidewalks.

The only violence was perpetrated by law enforcement officers. There was some minor property destruction and vandalism. Someone damaged the locks to the gates at Union Station, but we are unsure that this was done by demonstrators. The corporate media reports that some tires were set on fire on the George Washington Parkway. Most notably, one window was cracked at a Citibank branch. The window was impacted by a protestor's body when he/she was shoved into it by a police officer.

Preemptive Arrests Mark Unprecedented Attack on Civil Liberties by DC Police

More...

The day was marked by mass arrests. Photo 2 Audio Video Most of the demos were obstructed by police quickly after they began. The police slowly closed off groups of demonstrators, eventually walling them in a space, and arresting everyone present. At least one non-demonstrator was caught in the wrong place at the wrong time - she was assaulted, then arrested by police while taking her morning bike ride.

649 protesters were rounded up, handcuffed with plastic strips, and loaded onto busses. The busses were bound for a temporary detention center at the Police Academy in extreme southern DC. Several busses took more than 12 hours to reach the detention center, spending many hours in handcuffs on the busses. Some protestors are still being processed at 3AM.

One demonstrator who was dressed as a queer was taken off his bus, transfered to a police van, and beaten by police. Queer groups are mobilizing in opposition to this discriminatory act of abuse.

Despite threats of prison terms and federal charges, many arrestees have already been released, some with fines. Common charges were "failure to obey a lawful order," "participating in a riot," and "parading without a permit" A religious group was arrested for "obstructing a sidewalk."

The messages of the demonstrators were not adequately heard today. The corporate media focussed mainly on actions, street closures, and arrests, and a satire piece, while ignoring the messages. For example, the Critical Mass bike ride was intended to bring attention to environmentally friendly transportation, and the snake march was a critique of capitalist greed. The most severe police repression was at a rally entitled "beat the anti-war drums."

Tomorrow promises to be a day of issues. The marches, rallies, and demonstrations will be accompanied by clear messages on a variety of issues.

Special report from an IMC reporter who was just released from Blue Plains

6:44pm: Once arrested, people were photographed by: US Marshalls, Secret Service, DC Undercover Officer "Nick Farrey," and MPD.

6:40pm: Reporters arrested today by MPD: Washington Post, photographer for US News and World Report; freelancer for Time Magazine; photographer for Magnum; 2 DC IMC reporters with MPD Press Credentials; 4 IMC reporters from out of town.

[ Earlier 1 | Earlier 2 ]

Quarantines, Blockades, Few Arrests as People of Globe are Innoculated from Banks
Sept. 28, 2002

by Liz Highleyman
links by Joanne McNeil

Thousands protested the IMF and World Bank Saturday with a large rally and attempts to "quarantine" IMF delegates.

About 7,500 protesters converged in Washington, DC, on September 28 to protest the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Demonstrators decried the detrimental effects of neoliberal economic policies and called for global justice and democracy.

Saturday’s actions began with a rally on the lawn surrounding the Washington Monument. At noon some 400 people marched from the U.S. Treasury to the monument, calling for the cancellation of international debt and increased funding for AIDS prevention and care.

The rally, coordinated by Mobilization for Global Justice, featured many speakers and performers including consumer advocate Ralph Nader, Oscar Olivera of the Coalition in Defense of Water and Life in Bolivia, and musician Michelle Shocked.

Following the rally, demonstrators marched through the city to Farragut Square, near the site of the IMF and World Bank. The previous evening, police extended an exclusion zone around the financial institutions to keep protesters blocks away from meeting delegates. After a rally at Farragut Square, the protesters continued on to Murrow Park and up to nearby police barricades fronting the IMF and World Bank buildings. The demonstrators, many wearing biohazard suits, stated their goal of "quarantining" the IMF/World Bank and preventing delegates from leaving their meetings.

As the day ended, protesters were confined by police at several intersections. Eleven protesters were detained but only four were jailed.

As the demonstrations drew to a close at about 7:30pm, a group of forty activists bound together with duct tape lay in the streets near a barricade on Pennsylvania Street in an attempt to block delegates, most of whom were transported out in chartered buses under police escort.

In contrast to Friday’s actions, those on Saturday were permitted and there were few arrests. However, a number of protesters remain in jail since yesterday. Jail solidarity actions are continuing. As was the case Friday, the police presence remained overwhelming, utilizing members of several local and regional forces.

Sunday is the main day of the IMF meetings. Among the actions planned for tomorrow are a series of "People’s Assembly" gatherings in Farragut Square and a protest against Bush’s impending war on Iraq.

Past Breaking News from DC IMC.

Breaking News
Sept. 29, 2002

Yo peeps. It's about the message! The DC IMC will be holding a press conference tomorrow about police repression of activists and journalists.

7:25pm 15th and Pennsylvania - area is calm right now. Anarchists walking by Freedom Plaza and were told that if they took off their masks they would not be arrested. Some anarchists left, others took off their masks and continued walking, broke up into small groups and dispersed.

Park Police(?) Capt. in front of Pershing Park, says anarchists not going to be arrested if they disperse, even while admitting that no permit is needed for under 25 people. Anarchists disperse.

7pm Still at 15th and Penn, on other side of street. 'Negotiating' with cops. Officer in charge said there wouldn't be filming by cops but 2 undercovers in a SUV with digital cameras, are still filming. The group of anarchists deciding what to do. Anarchists say they have a right to go to Freedom Plaza. The cops say only have 1 hour to be in Freedom Plaza. There is no reason that they have one hour, but Officer in charge says Captain will come in one hour and remove them. Sgt ME Beach says this. Legal is present.

6:39pm 15th and New York Ave, the group is stopped. Anarchists negotiating w/ cops. Someone checked for busses to see if mass arrests imminent but there are none. Cops agreed to escort group to Freedom Plaza. There are more cops and motor vehicles.

Earlier, at 15th and Penn as group got closer to White House, police got more tense, although the protestors were not doing anything but walking. Cops are doing massive photographing and videotaping.

March dispersed hour and half ago. Hundreds were coming back and filling the streets. People walked hand and hand back from march, singing "We Shall Overcome." Motocycles tried to ram them. IMC reporter got hit in the balls. Police wanted everyone on sidewalk. Cops were riding into oncoming traffic. At Farragut Square, cops gave ultimatim to be arrested or disperse. Some people left, but about 15 anarchists surrounded by cops, for 5 blocks as they were walking. Earlier cops were trying to split them up. There's one cop particularly, who is brutal and harrassing intensely.

4:45pm: The rally from the march in front of the VP's house has now ended. Everything is calm and peaceful. People are slowly dispersing.

4:30pm Some protestors were in back of the rally at Cheney's VP Residence, going into the woody area. Police chasing the protestors into the woody area. People coming back out of woody area.

4:20pm Mass and Observatory Circle: 3000 people in march has stopped in front of VP Cheney's Residence. March is filling the street.

4:12pm March is in front of the Embassy of S. Africa and the people in the embassy are coming outside and raising their fists in solidarity.

4:08 March people are singing, march is slowing down. They are slowing down in front of the Women's Committee for the Symphony Orchestra fundraiser. Some in fundraiser are coming outside to observe, and some are joining the singing.

4:04pm March crossing bridge over Rock Creek Park. At entrance to bridge someone held up sign: "Globalize This," with peace sign. As march passed, they cheered the sign. Chant: "Exxon, Mobile, BP, Shell, Take your war and go to hell." Caller just noticed women with scarves on their head in march.
3:58 Chant just changed to "Free Palestine"
3:55 Islamic Center: People are coming out with Palestinian flags and kaffiyahs and joining the crowd. Crowd shouting "We Want Peace". Islamic Center people responding in Arabic, "Allah Akbar" - god is great.

DC Note: 3 Party Animal statues were removed from street and are sitting behind the Turkish Embassy gate. There is someone affiliated to Turkish Embassy observing the march and chanting.

3:51 People are chanting in front of Turkish embassy and chanting "Hey Turkey what do you say, no more war in Iraq today."

3:49pm Mass and Florida: March proceeded very peacefully. Togo embassy, and Turkish military attache office, were heavily protected by riot police. Embassy of Japan has 50-80 police protecting, not in full riot gear. Next, Turkish embassy has police in fuller riot gear. Egyptian, Japan, Togo, Turkey, British Embassies have special police protection. At the planned stops on march, there are banner-holdings to say this country opposes the war on Iraq, with exception of Turkey. However, these same embassies have special police protection.

3:23 Mass and 20th: Peaceful march is going up Mass. Ave. Chant: "1234 we don't want your oil war. 5678..."

3:15 March preparing to leave.

3:10 Phyllis Dennis, Inst. for Policy Studies, from the podium announced that Tony Blair has officially changed his position. However, we have no confirmation of this statement anywhere. IMC-UK | BBC

3:05PM Speaker, Phyllis Dennis, Inst. for Policy studies, "We have a choice b/w Empire and Democracy. We can't have both." She also said, if we tell Iraq to not have weapons of mass destruction then we can't have them either.

3:00pm Speaker asking for people at rally to call Congress to show opposition to Iraq war. Washington Post cited that on Monday, the Communication Office of Congress had overwhelming calls in opposition to war in Iraq.

2:50pm Bread and Puppet theater are set up and asking for crowd to volunteer to carry banner and be puppeteers. Banners and signs say "Resist", "Resistance of the heart against business as usual", "Insurrection" "Preemptive Massacre", "Inspections not Bombs". Focus is on bombings already happened and the war that is about to happen.

2:45pm Dupont Circle full to capacity with couple thousand people. Message from speaker: Those who are protesting economic injustice, those who are protesting US intervention in Latin America, those who are protesting the war in Iraq..."Need to come to together in One hand and One fist."

2:34PM 18th and New Hampshire Ave., police have blocked off lanes entering Dupont Circle to all cars for traffic management. Cars cans exits only. Pedestrians free to move either way.

2:20 Permitted Rally at Dupont Circle against the War in Iraq has started. Mood is still peaceful.

1:45PM Walking down from American U on Massachusetts Ave., crossing b/w Waterside and California, there were several undercover cops permeating Dupont Circle. The mood in Dupont Circle pre to the protest against the Iraq war, is calm, with dog walkers, park strollers etc. Despite this peaceful atmosphere, there is a quiet build up of police, with duffle bags of equipment. British Embassy has barricades around it.

1:30pm 4 arrested yesterday Saturday Sept. 28, 7 still in jail from Friday, sept 27 are doing jail solidarity. People doing jail solidarity are in DC jail, in SW.

12:30PM: The D.C. Justice and Solidarity Law Collective has set up a space for people to document the injuries they have recieved in interactions with police over the weekend. The location is: The Center, at 1530 P street N.W. Enter on the P street side. The Center will be available for this purpose from 4-6 P.M. today, Sunday the 29th.

Journalists Targeted by Police
Oct. 1, 2002

The DC Independent Media Center held a press conference on Monday, 9/30, on the repressive tactics by the DC Metro Police Dept. preventing journalists from reporting what they were observing on the first day of protest against the Fall meetings of the IMF/World Bank. Additionally, the MPD targeted specific DC Independent Media Center (DC IMC) journalists--arresting and incarcerating them--in violation of freedom of the press. Video proof was presented of two specific IMC reporters being targetted and then arrested.

US News and World Report, the Washington Post, a Canadian journalist with Magnum Photo, and other journalists were also arrested the same Friday morning, along with over 600 people. The specific issues and voices of the Friday protests did not get in the news, partly due to the arrests of journalists.

Speakers in the second half of the press conference were from the Pagan Cluster, the Anti-Capitalist Convergence, and the Radical Action Network of Trainers, representing some of the arrested. They likened the undemocratic nature of World Bank and IMF decisions, to the denial of democracy, freedom of speech and assembly, enforced by the MPD on the streets of Washington DC. The police also arrested Legal aid observers and medics.

Video Evidence Photos

'How to Use the Freedom of Information Act'
Jefferson and the Legacy of Press Freedom

No Freedom in Freedom Plaza
Oct. 2, 2002

Following are first person and eye witness accounts of Friday 9/27, during the mass arrest of over 600 people, for "failure to obey":

by Shawna Bader - "No Freedom in Freedom Plaza"
On Friday morning, I was illegally arrested along with more than 600 others, the vast majority of whom did not intend to be arrested and had committed absolutely no illegal act. WARNING: Sitting in a park watching people drum and dance is now a crime. [More]

by Joe - "A Day in the Park Amid Rumors of War"
This administration is attempting to prevent criticism of preemptive military strikes abroad by preemptively arresting protesters at home. They violate the principles of the Bill of Rights in order to freely violate the rule of international law. Surely such behavior exposes the weakness of the Administration’s case for a preemptive war. Why do they fear debate? Why do they fear of the voice of the people? A terrible thing happened to the demonstrators and to the Constitution in Pershing Park. But if seeing fellow citizens falsely accused and falsely imprisoned will encourage more Americans to speak out for peace and freedom, then Alexis and I will be happy to have paid the price. [More]

Houston IMC - Audio - Scott Parkin gives a description of the scene in Freedom Plaza as he saw it. (mp3)

Interview with 'Roo'
Various officers mislead people around, when they asked if they could leave or where they could leave, rather than tell them they were being detained, says Roo.

Bystanders included pedestrians on their way to work. Roo heard several plea that they had to get to their job. Roo quotes one officer’s response as "my job is to beat your ass." Other officers taunted some who wanted to leave with phrases like "come here through me," said with a tone that Roo intepreted as a "just try it" sort of expression. [More]

Interview with Brent Robinson
Charged with "Failure to Obey," Robinson was held for a total of 27 hours. He was transported on bus number 15. Robinson says the bus first went to the Blue Plains facility, but then returned downtown, and then finally returned to Blue Plains... He estimates that 13 of his approximately 27 hours being detained were spent on the bus. The rest of that time was spent being processed at Blue Plains with his right wrist cuffed to his left ankle.

Robinson was adamant that he is innocent of the charge "Failure to Obey", as there were no orders given - except perhaps directional orders - by the police, which were followed. They were not allowed to leave. Shortly afterward they were arrested. [More]

Contribute your story to the open newswire and look for more stories on the wire.

Letter to Parents from Wife/Mother of Two Arrested at Pershing Park

Legal Update from DC Justice & Solidarity Collective
Oct. 4, 2002

10/4/02 5:00PM
This morning, the 'Jane Does' doing jail solidarity were transferred from the D.C. City Jail to the Superior Court, just to have their charges dropped. They are being transferred back to the jail now where they will be released in the next couple hours. If you're sitting around with nothing to do, run over to 19th & D SE (Stadium Armory Metro Stop) to welcome them back to the 'free' world. Messages of love, support, and congratulations can be passed on to them (p9, p13, & p42 - three amazing, and courageous women) if you send it to info@justiceandsolidarity.org.

For those wanting to offer up solidarity with those arrested: Arraignments for those entering pleas to the judge for the first time, will begin next week, Tuesday, October 8th, Superior Court House at 500 Indiana Ave. 10:30am. (Opens at 9am, but arraignments generally don't start until 11am.) Go to the information desk and ask for protest cases ('failure to obey', 'incommoding' or 'parading without a permit' charges). More info on court dates, what to expect, etc. over the weekend.

DC Justice & Solidarity Collective

A Talk with a Neighbor
Oct. 6, 2002

by Michael
So I'm at work and I run into this guy who told me how great the movie, "My Big Fat Greek Wedding", or something, is....

Then, as if being struck with a strong aroma, snaps into a head-shaking praise for the "kids who were in DC last weekend". He's proud of them because it shows that they are "tuned in" to what's happening in the world. He says something like, "While most people are tuned into the Superbowl, these kids are getting to the streets about the IMF. Who knows what the IMF is?" More