Antiglobalization protesters yesterday staged a “street theater” that featured body bags and the Grim Reaper chasing Third World countries outside the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters downtown.
The more than 20 activists were just part of the thousands expected in the District this weekend to protest what they call the “homicidal and destructive” lending practices of the banks.
“Some poor countries are now forced to spend more on foreign debt than on health care and education combined. It’s a race to the bottom,” said activist spokesman Chris Doran, standing in a small park near the World Bank office in the 1800 block of H Street NW.
Mr. Doran’s California-based PressurePoint is one of the groups organizing the weekend’s events with the District-based Mobilization for Global Justice.
The organizers have said the protests will be peaceful and will end Saturday night, before hundreds of thousands are expected to arrive Sunday for a pro-choice rally, which is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. on the Mall.
Damian S. Milverton, World Bank senior communications officer, said earlier this week he hopes the protesters have traveled to developing countries and are “speaking from experience.”
However, he acknowledged the banks have started a program to reduce the debt of 27 nations by more than $50 billion over the next 20 years and that debt cancellation will be discussed at this week’s meetings.
Another antiglobalization protest is scheduled to begin at noon today at Franklin Square, near the McPherson Square Metro stop.
“From there, we’re going to march past three to four locations, including the World Bank, the IMF and the White House,” said David Levy, a spokesman for the Mobilization for Global Justice.
Also this weekend, more than 44,000 people are expect to attend an NFL draft party at FedEx Field in Landover, and about 60,000 are expected to participate in the University of Maryland College Park’s annual outreach event.
The protests will coincide with the annual meetings and their 60th anniversaries.
Metropolitan Police Department officers were on hand for yesterday’s protest. Department officials said extra officers will be on duty throughout the weekend, and that they plan to activate their closed-circuit television system, a network of 14 wireless cameras that are mounted primarily on downtown buildings.
The department also will use temporary cameras at Farragut Square, Lafayette Park and McPherson Square.
Sgt. Scott Fear, spokesman for the U.S. Park Police, said the agency has canceled days off this weekend and about 400 officers will be on duty.
Park Police officers from New York City and civil-disturbance units also will be on duty.
Police this weekend also plan to close several major downtown streets, including Pennsylvania and Connecticut avenues and 17th, 18th and 19th streets, all in Northwest.
Yesterday’s event went without incident, despite concerns that organizers would be unable to obtain a permit to perform.
When the show started, about 10 performers representing poor countries lined up on the sidewalk. The Grim Reaper, wearing a skull mask and with the words IMF and World Bank written in white on her black cloak — charged toward the other performers.
“Look at all the poor countries,” she cackled, swinging a scythe. “I’m going to destroy you all.”
The countries played dead and fell to the ground. Onlookers were invited to place flowers around them as Mr. Doran read eulogies for each country.
“Zambia: killed by user fees,” he said. “When one boy suffering from malaria approached a clinic, he was turned away because he couldn’t afford to pay the 33 cent user fee enacted under neo-liberal economic policy. The boy, and millions like him around the world, died.”
The show ended with the “countries” rising from the dead, tackling the Grim Reaper and breaking her scythe.
“Ain’t no power like the power of the people,” they chanted.
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