IMF And World Bank Protests

On 16th April finance ministers and central bankers from 25 countries, as well as ministers from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), World Bank and WTO and other members of the world economic elite went to Washington DC, USA. The IMF and World Bank sponsored Structural Adjustment Programmes destroy local economies, ravage the environment, wipe out jobs, cause famine, and enrich a corrupt corporate elite. These institutions impose 'free market' policies on every country on the planet putting profit and economic growth above all else.

The Washington DC protests against the International Monetary Fund/World Bank spring meetings were billed as Seattle II. In the week before the Washington police used intimidation tactics - heavy police presence, circling helicopters, arresting 600 people at an anti-Gap demonstration, motorbike charging a critical mass bike ride, closing down the direct action convergence centre for ‘fire violations’ and confiscating bikes, puppets etc. Authorities were embarrassed when the ‘incendiary devices ’ they confiscated were identified as milk jugs and other items from the recycling bin!

On 16th April, 20-30,000 protestors took part in the rally, protest and blockade in the 60-80 blocks surrounding the IMF and World Bank Buildings. Police barricaded two blocks from the target, closing down the city, and many delegates couldn’t get through. The next day was more serious. Groups held street parties and blockades at key intersections. As the World Bank’s Development Committee met inside a 100 block exclusion zone, a column of protesters managed to penetrate the perimeter. Hundreds were arrested after voluntarily crossing the police line. About 100 people held a vigil outside the prison, in solidarity with those inside, and will stay until the last people in custody are released. www.a16.org