The violence erupted during a protest brought on by demonstrators is one of many rallies that is to go on this weekend. In this rally, demonstrators were marching against both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The demonstration happened to take place Friday night in Georgetown which is in the northwestern part of Washington DC.
There were up to three hundred protestors marching through the streets of Georgetown. Still violence erupted despite the large number of police officers on scooters and bicycles deployed. They flanked and followed the protestors to make sure nothing got out of hand. However, violence still erupted. One woman got hit in the face with a brick and bled as a result of the violence.
Two protesters were arrested due to a connection to an incident following the violence with an officer being pushed from a scooter. Trashcans were overturned, things were thrown, and news paper boxes were also overturned as a result.
Luckily, the stores in that area were proactive enough to anticipate possible violence during the demonstrations. They boarded up their doors and windows in preparation of the demonstrations against the meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
In the past, they focused on the headquarters not far and west of the White House. But it was Georgetown where those delegates would stay and dine. The demonstration is aimed to let both groups know that they will not let them exploit the Third World.
They were ordered to disperse around ten at night when demonstrators and police had met face to face. Most have complied while a few others had resorted to an act of violence following the demonstration.
Earlier, they rallied outside U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement to condemn their immigration policies. However, another demonstration will take place today at both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Anybody who lives near the area may be able to check out the demonstrations.
The demonstrations will start at a half-hour past noon at Franklin Park while ending at Edward R. Murrow Park.
In additional preparation to incidents that involved people getting hit by a police taser, one wore a shirt that saying not to tase him. Marco Del Fuego, one of the organizers with the October Coalition calls this a day of solidarity with immigrants. He added that proposals set to arrest illegal immigrants would require police to racially profile the community. With that, Del Fuego adds that they are against it.
Basav San states: “I’m here to protest the racist, abusive policies of the United States. And to connect these policies with the global community.”
Del Fuego called Georgetown a neighborhood of excessive wealth and privilege. He also adds that the residents of Georgetown do not care much about the poverty and misery going on the other side of Washington DC.
For those whom want to attend the demonstration should head out to the designated starting location early.
On a personal note, I can relate to the demonstrators. I happen to be second-generation Vietnamese. My family emigrated from Vietnam directly after the Vietnam War in the mid-1970s.
It can be expected that the demonstrations taking place today at noon can be much larger.