The World Bank and IMF's annual meeting in Washington, D.C., this weekend was met by protests similar to those held in past years. The protests began Friday morning with a massive bike ride through the capital. The goal of the bike ride was to congest the streets and slow the progress of the meeting, said Students United for a Responsible Global Environment member and recent UNC graduate Dennis Markatos on Thursday.
But officials were prepared to meet the onslaught of protesters. About 1,500 D.C. police officers were assisted by 1,700 officers from other jurisdictions around the country. According to The Associated Press, more than 600 people were arrested Friday and one injury was reported.
The IMF and World Bank, both founded in the 1940s, are forums for 184 countries. The World Bank acts as a worldwide money lender, and the IMF was "established to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange stability and orderly exchange agreements," according to its mission statement.
But the IMF and World Bank have been accused of promoting the economic agenda of the United States and other leading nations, resulting in sweat shops in third-world countries and job losses in the United States.
UNC junior Katian Witchger attended the protests Saturday, which consisted of a fairly peaceful day of marches and speeches. "I wanted to voice my opinion as an American," she said.
Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader was among the speakers who spoke about corporate greed during the rally at the Sylvan Theatre.
Following the speeches, protesters planned to surround the IMF and World Bank offices to prevent the delegates from entering the buildings. But the marchers were intercepted by police officers, who had formed a perimeter around the buildings, forcing the marchers to move to a nearby park.
The day ended with only six arrests. Four people were spotted trying to assemble something in an alley, authorities said. They were charged with possession of an explosive device.
Some Triangle participants stressed the importance of the event and said the event was successful despite a smaller-than-anticipated turnout. "I feel like my personal growth ... is tied up to how people in the rest of the world are living," said UNC graduate Andrew Pearson before leaving for D.C.
