15 arrested in advance of IMF protests expected in Washington

April 13, 2000
Web posted at: 8:37 p.m. EDT (0037 GMT)

By Correspondent Kate Snow

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Washington police prepared Thursday for an onslaught of protests planned to begin this weekend to coincide with meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

Demonstrators said they would attempt to disrupt the sessions Sunday and Monday, when finance ministers are to attend the meetings. By Thursday, police had arrested 15 people.

Seven were arrested Wednesday for possessing materials that could be used to construct "lock boxes," devices used by protesters to create a shield against police.

	ALSO
No Seattle repeat just yet

At a news conference Thursday outside World Bank headquarters, Police Chief Charles Ramsey said the five men and two women were arrested for "possession of an implement of crime."

The seven are members of "Mobilization for Global Justice," a coalition planning protests to begin Sunday.

Police said those arrested were in two vans filled with more than 250 sections of 3- to 4-foot sections of pipe, 45 smaller pieces of pipe, duct tape, chicken wire, tar, bolt cutters and chains. Police said the vans also contained gas masks.

Police said they suspect protesters planned to cover their arms with tubing, interlock them, and then cover the tubing with chicken wire and tar.

Ramsey said police would not tolerate the use of such devices, which he described as dangerous to protesters and police. Similar devices were used at protests against the World Trade Organization in Seattle last December. Some of those arrested Wednesday in Washington had participated in the Seattle protests, police said.

Protesters said police were targeting them unfairly; that possession of construction materials is not against the law.

Ramsey acknowledged the demonstrators' right to protest, but said "people don't have a right just to chain themselves together."

Authorities said they would try to avoid conflict with protesters but were prepared to make mass arrests.

In preparation for the expected demonstrations, about 1,500 city police have undergone training in responding to acts of civil disobedience. The city also moved up the purchase of $500,000 of protective gear, including helmets and shields.

Ramsey said the city would spend $1.6 million in overtime pay for police officers this weekend. All vacations and days off have been cancelled, he said.

Streets surrounding World Bank and IMF headquarters have been closed to traffic, and Metropolitan Police, U.S. Park Police, and the U.S. Secret Service were combining efforts to guard a perimeter around the buildings.

About 60 protesters marched through the city's downtown business district Thursday denouncing free trade. They began with a rally outside a Starbuck's coffee shop, then walked to a nearby Gap clothing store -- companies they call symbols of capitalism and "monoculture."

The group then headed to the National Press Club, where the director general of the World Trade Organization, Michael Moore, was speaking on international trade.

A spokesman for "Mobilization for Global Justice" said more than 1,000 people had arrived in Washington by Thursday morning and had checked in at the group's makeshift headquarters.

Dozens of protesters attended training sessions Thursday at the group's "convergence center," a location filled primarily with young people. Organizers said they expected "thousands more" demonstrators to arrive in Washington by the weekend.

Seattle sequel
April 10, 2000
Europe jockeying to fill top IMF position
March 3, 2000
IMF proposes tax regime for East Timor
February 25, 2000
Why U.S. blocked German choice for IMF chief
February 29, 2000

International Monetary Fund
The World Bank Group
World Trade Organization
Mobilization for Global Justice
National Press Club

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.