WASHINGTON DC, 9/28/02 -- The march was led by the "Global Justice Truck" playing hip-hop music followed by the Mobilization for Global Justice banner with beginning chants of "More World Less Bank." Many impressive puppets followed including a Trojan Horse called "World Bank Aid." Organizers estimated 15,000 to 20,000, but Baltimore Indymedia reporters thought it less.

Most participants were youth in their 20s. We did find a few union activists like Mike Berry of the Communication Workers of America. Was the "teamsters and turtles" coalition of the 1999 protests in Seattle a thing of the past? Not so, according to Berry who said "that the split between labor and the global justice movement is temporary. And I believe it has more to do with the complicated situation in the Middle East than with September 11th. The global justice movement and the labor movement can reconnect, and I believe they will for the longer-term."

As the march made its way to Farragut Square we talked to New York University student Aaron, an African-American youth. Aaron was here "For humanistic reasons. My family background relates to my presence. My grandfather came to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic. He came after the U.S. invasion in 1965. While my parents have a working class background, I had the privilege to attend Washington DC's exclusive St. Albans School. There I encountered students from wealthy families. I developed a sensitivity to class. I'm here to show that people with an African-American and working class background care about what happens in other countries." Aaron elaborated "The IMF, World Bank, and World Trade Organization policies essentially allow wealthy countries to dominate the economies of Third World countries. And the United States gets monetary gain from this situation. The U.S. 'war against terrorism' is another reason I'm here today. I live 10 blocks from where the World Trade Centers stood. September 11 effected me profoundly. But what is part of the history here? The United States government sent arms to 'rebels' in Afghanistan to fight against Soviet troops. And what did the people of Afghanistan get when the Soviets were pushed out? The Taliban dictatorship, essentially a creation of US foreign policy."

AT FARRAGUT SQUARE & MURROW PARK

Eventually activists gathered at Farragut Square. At one tense moment full of media spectacle, corporate America flags, of design developed by the Canadian magazine Adbusters, and an IMF/WB effigy were burnt at the statue of Farragut on 17th Street near K, according to witness Emma Chandler.

Sometime after 5:00pm the MGJ march continued to a newly permitted area at Edward R. Murrow Park in front of the World Bank. Thousands gathered in front of the Bank separated from the structure by concrete and lines of police. There were moments of festival. For example, The Radical Cheerleaders chanted "Little girls, fight back, fight back! Rise up, rise up! Fight back, be strong!" while a puppet of George W. Bush danced in front of the entrance to the police line.

Again, there were moments of tension which seemed largely a result of police provocation. For example, when a line of police moved from a position at 18th & I to one at 18th & H, an officer, according to eyewitnesses, attempted to pull a banner of the Anti-Capitalist Convergence away from activists. A tugging match occurred, then several police grabbed a blonde-haired activist and pulled him behind the police barrier, arresting him.

STREET ACTIONS & EL SALVADOR'S MINISTER OF FINANCE

After activists marched away from Murrow Park, a number of small autonomous actions occurred. About 30 activists sat down at Pennsylvania Ave and 20th Street. They linked arms. A stand-off with police occurred, but no arrests. The police, it seemed, kept entrances/exits for delegates to the IMF/World Bank meetings open by moving activists away, or changing the entrance/exit locations. In contrast to the previous day, when more than 600 were arrested, only 11 were arrested on the 28th.

We got word that they was a blockade at 21st & H Streets. We made our way there, only to find remnants of yarn and caution tape likely used as symbols of "quarantine," but no activists.

However, a well-dressed man was about to cross the street. We asked "Are you a delegate?" He said "Yes." His name was Dr. Daboud, the minister of finance of El Salvador. When asked what he thought of the protests, Daboud said "I respect freedom of speech, but there are other ways of communicating concerns. I respect [people's right to protest] as long as it is peaceable." According to Daboud the structural adjustment programs have had good results in El Salvador. Daboud said that "Since the signing of the peace accords 12 years ago, there has been change. Since the reform in 1992, the situation has improved." What had been the effect on the public sector, on health and education? Daboud responded that "In the past, 50% of the budget went to defense. Now 75% goes to [the public sector], in, for example, health and education."

Daboud said that democracy has helped the reform in El Salvador, and continued "but people who pay for it should make the decisions." As his aid encouraged him to catch a waiting vehicle, we asked what he thought about the situation in Argentina? Daboud responded that "much of Argentina's problems stem from having not fully implemented the reforms." At this point a security agent escorted Dr. Daboud away from us to get in the waiting car.