Washington braces for weekend protests

Washington police move barricades Friday in preparation for demonstrations during the IMF - World Bank spring meetings.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The nation's capital is bracing for a weekend onslaught of tens of thousands of activists planning to rally for causes ranging from Palestinian solidarity to economic justice to the U.S.-led war on terrorism.

Local authorities have begun removing trash cans and newspaper boxes from city streets -- to prevent protesters from throwing them -- and setting up road blocks in anticipation of the weekend's events.

"We're hoping it will be peaceful, but we're prepared in case it's not peaceful," said Officer Anthony O'Leary of Washington's Metropolitan Police Department.

An organizer with Mobilization for Global Justice, which will rally Saturday and Sunday outside the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, said that his group, at least, will make its point without violence.

"We're definitely dedicated to non-violence, creative resistance," said Brant Olson.

Police also expressed concerns about possible terrorist attacks against the demonstrators, many of whom will express controversial views.

"At this point, we don't have any intelligence information that tells us anything is going to take place, but obviously in today's environment we have to be very concerned about that," said Police Chief Charles Ramsey.

Four major rallies scheduled

Nathan Harrington holds a peace sign on the National Mall in Washington with the U.S. Capitol in the background Friday.

At least four major rallies are scheduled to take place in Washington in the next two days.

The Mobilization for Global Justice-led rallies will pressure the World Bank to open up its meetings about loans to developing countries, object to policies it claims encourages governments to cut spending on social services and forgive the debts of many Third World countries.

James Wolfensohn, the president of the World Bank, which meets this weekend, said the institution has "come a hell of a long way" in making changes to assist developing nations.

Other events scheduled for Saturday include:

Besides the latter event, protest organizer Terra Lawson-Rember said the demonstrations "all have a different agenda, but all are united by a common concern: U.S. military and economic policies that are undermining freedom, democracy and equal justice at home and abroad."