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Protesters pledge to shut down Washington
By DAVID HO
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Protesters are pledging to shut down the nation's capital Friday with demonstrations that will ``disrupt traffic and convey a symbolic message'' against capitalism and war.

The protests are a prelude to even larger demonstrations planned for the weekend during meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The FBI issued a warning this week that computer hackers may conduct ``cyber protests'' during the financial meetings.

``A small group that intends to disrupt the meetings with a physical attack may use cyber means to enhance the effects of the physical attack or to complicate the response by emergency services,'' the agency said in a statement.

The Anti-Capitalist Convergence, a group that wants to abolish the global financial institutions, said Wednesday that they would hold several nonviolent demonstrations during Friday morning's rush hour. The events include a mass bike ride to protest the Bush administration's environmental policies and a march opposing ``corporate greed'' that will target the headquarters of various companies.

The demonstrators said they do not have permits for these events, which would wind through Washington's downtown business district.

Police plan to block off streets in the area around the financial institutions, located just a few blocks from the White House, and are bringing in 1,700 officers from neighboring communities to help local law enforcement.

On Wednesday, U.S. Park Police officers practiced crowd control maneuvers, including drills on removing people who obstruct roads and buildings - things protesters are threatening to do Friday.

Deputy Chief Dwight Pettiford said his officers will be ``kind and gentle'' with protesters, but they'll also be very firm with those who practice disobedience.

Further disruption could be caused by demonstrator ``affinity groups,'' small clusters of protesters working independently.

``They will be staking out strategic and political targets to disrupt traffic and convey a symbolic message to the city to draw attention to the issues they think are important,'' ACC organizer Andrew Willis said. He said affinity groups will converge from all over the United States and Canada, bringing thousands of demonstrators to Washington.

``The people who are coming here on Sept. 27 do not consider themselves violent nor do they consider their tactics to be violent,'' Willis said. He said the demonstrators want an end to all debts, including personal debt, and universal access to food, water and housing.

Many members of the ACC call themselves ``anarchists.'' Police have blamed anarchists for much of the violence during past protests against the global financial institutions.

In April 2000, Washington police arrested about 1,300 people during demonstrations against the IMF and World Bank.

Confrontations last year outside the Group of Eight summit in Genoa, Italy, caused extensive property damage, hundreds of arrests and injuries and the death of one Italian protester who was shot by police.

Last year's IMF and World Bank meeting was canceled after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, so protesters called off their plans, with many holding anti-war demonstrations instead.

Protests in Washington during the April meetings of the IMF and World Bank were peaceful and focused on issues ranging from the war against terrorism to U.S. Mideast policy.

This year, the global financial institutions have scaled back their annual meeting, from a week to two days, in an effort to trim soaring security costs.

Mobilization for Global Justice, which advocates nonviolent protests and serves as an umbrella organization for a number of activist groups, is the main organizer of planned protests to take place outside the World Bank on Saturday. Protest organizers say they expect thousands to turn out to demand that the financial institutions open their meetings to the public, end harmful economic policies and cancel Third World debt.

Protesters from around the world plan a series of teach-ins and workshops leading up to the weekend demonstrations.

Thanks for the news article. There was a report on local Fox channel news that a WHOPPING 30 of the commies were staging a "sleep out for the homeless" at HUD HQ tonight, in the rain. :-)

My suggestion to them would be - if you really hate homelessness, and want to do something truly meaningful in solving the homeless problem, why don't each of you spoiled socialist brats adopt a homeless person? Take him/her home to live with you and your family, feed them, clothe them, give them soap (that you aren't using anyway), loan them your car, let them sleep in your comfy homes (that capitalism bought for you). I guess I have no heart, huh?

Will we see you on Saturday? We're going to have a great time! And we need all DC Chapter members in good standing to be on hand for our own brand of street theater. :-)

ATTENTION DC CHAPTER MEMBERS !!

ALL HANDS ON DECK !!

Answer up, guys and gals!

Now is the time for all good men (and women) to come to the aid of their country!