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http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wjla/20020422/lo/world_bank_imf_protests_lead_to_37_arrests_1.htmlhttp://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/wjla/20020422/lo/world_bank_imf_protests_lead_to_37_arrests_1.html
Monday April 22 01:03 PM EDT
World Bank, IMF Protests Lead to 37 Arrests
Morning protests near the U.S. Capitol led to 37 arrests Monday. U.S. Park Police charged all of those arrested with obstructing traffic on the Capitol grounds.
Lieutenant Dan Nichols says 18 of the people were arrested at the Delaware and Constitution entrance to the Capitol, 19 others were arrested at First Street and Constitution Northeast.
The arrests came as demonstrators called for an end to all U.S. military aid to Colombia.
Police allowed the protesters to march from the Washington Monument to Upper Senate Park without a permit.
Scores of police on horseback, motorcycles, bicycles and foot flanked the demonstrators, keeping them from tying up intersections for long on their march from the Washington Monument.
But police blocked the protesters as they tried to approach the Capitol. Many of those arrested were seen kneeling and sitting in front of entrances to the Capitol grounds before police took them into custody.
"Civil disobedience is part of this movement," said Glenn Fiscella, 47, of Newport News, Va. "It's like a democratic tool that you use like voting or writing a letter to the editor. You can be forceful, you can be militant, without being violent ... and that's where this movement's at."
The protest on streets, sidewalks and a path along the 1.5 miles from the monument to the Capitol and another outside the annual convention of the largest pro-Israel lobbying group followed a weekend of largely peaceful demonstrations surrounding spring meetings of the World Bank (news - web sites) and the International Monetary Fund (news - web sites).
"People are being very peaceful and I appreciate it," Ramsey said. As he spoke, a few people behind him were being arrested; he thanked each one for going quietly.
On a gray drizzly Monday, a protest organizer with a bullhorn led the crowd in chants before everyone set off to the Cap! it! ol. She had them pledge not to be violent, use drugs, run through the streets or use profanity.
Those who wanted to be at low risk of arrest should march on the sidewalk, she said, while those who wanted to chance it should use the streets. Most used sidewalks and the path.
Dozens kneeled on the Senate side of the Capitol grounds, singing. Police let them sing for 10 minutes before telling them they were breaking the law by obstructing a roadway, and they dispersed. Shortly after, several hundred sang "We Shall Overcome" farther from Congress.
City officials had braced for the worst from anti-globalization protesters who have clashed with police several times since their movement surfaced with violent demonstrations in Seattle in 1999. During protests at the financial institutions' spring meeting in Washington two years ago, police made 1,300 arrests.
But the weekend protests were largely peaceful, with police praising organizers for keeping the events orderly. Sixty! -f! ive people in two groups were arrested for interfering with traffic and unlawfully entering a parking garage.Police say if necessary, they will make more arrests Monday.
Meanwhile,city officialshave announced the following street closings from noon to midnight Monday because of demonstrations:
• Connecticut Avenue NW, from California Street to Florida Avenue.
• Florida Avenue NW, from Connecticut Avenue to 19th Street.
• Connecticut Avenue NW, from Calvert Street to Dupont Circle (resident traffic only).
In addition, through-traffic will be restricted on Connecticut Avenue with northbound traffic being diverted at Dupont Circle.
Southbound traffic on Connecticut Avenue will be diverted at Calvert Street. Only residents who live in the affected area will be permitted in and out using Connecticut Avenue.
Police may also be forced to close additional streets because groups opposed toU.S. military aid to Colombia said they would block streets with sit-ins during ! th! eir march.Anti-globalization forces, who oppose policies they say benefit the rich and harm the poor in many nations, were joined this year by demonstrators with an array of causes.
The protesters concerned with Colombia object to a proposal by the Bush administration to let U.S. aid now tied to the drug war be used to fight guerrillas in that country.
President Bush (news - web sites) is also asking Congress for $133 million to help Colombia stop guerrilla attacks on an oil pipeline, reduce kidnappings and rebuild bombed police stations, plus $439 million in longer-term aid. U.S. Special Forces have been training Colombian troops.
Both the State Department and the United Nations (news - web sites) have criticized the human rights record of the Colombian military.
On Saturday, tens of thousands of protesters marched through the capital's streets to support the Palestinians and oppose the Bush administration's war on terrorism.
About 1,000 demonstrators came out in a chilly drizzle Sunday, protesting ou! ts! ide the meeting of finance ministers and then marching to the National Mall for a rally against U.S. policies in Latin America.
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