[Scan-DC] Next Weekend's IMF/WB Protests

[Steve Rigby]

Alan Henney quoted from a MPDC document:

 > MPDC PREPARES FOR WEEKEND OF PROTESTS

 > On the weekend of September 28-29, the International Monetary
 > Fund and World Bank Group will hold their annual meetings in
 > downtown DC. A large, but undetermined number of protestors
 > opposed to the policies of the two organizations is also expected
 >  over the weekend and during the days leading up to the meetings.
 >  For example, one protest group, the Anti-Capitalist Convergence,
 >  has called for a "Day of Non-Compliance and Resistance" on
 > Friday, September 27th, with the stated goal of shutting down DC.

   The stated goal of "shutting down DC" is such standard fare in
protests that I am truly amazed at the level of rhetoric and
paranoia that has been raised over that issue this time around, and
not just from the media, but from authorities as well.  It is even
possible that federal law may be invoked that will void all
permission for this upcoming demo to take place, or cause the demo
to be relegated to a specific location only, such as the RFK parking
lot.  There is allegedly some consideration being given to outlawing
any anti-government demos at any location in the United States while
we are under this 'national crisis.'  Who knows what we will see
after this edict that was provided to Congress today by the White
House.

   Contrary to popular thought, there exists no absolute right of the
public to assemble for the purposes of seeking a redress of their
grievances.  Federal law provides for government to make a
determination as to the location of, purposes of and circumstances
surrounding any planned demonstrations when deciding to allow or
disallow demonstrations to take place.

   Steve