It was unexpectedly calm in downtown Washington over the weekend as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund held annual meetings that have historically been the focus of broad protests.
In 2000, up to 20,000 protesters descended upon the meetings to protest the groups’ approach to international finance.
This year it was so quiet a flock of pigeons rested undisturbed on a streetlight across from the World Bank building.
D.C. police spokesman Quintin Peterson said Saturday that there was “light activity” in the area, but no reports of any protests.
Jacob Johnson of the District was one of a handful of representatives from the Leesburg-based LaRouche Political Action Committee handing out information about the controversial political figure Lyndon LaRouche’s take on the government bailout.
Standing on the corner of 19th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, Johnson said he had not seen many protesters Friday and Saturday, adding that “people are damn shocked” by what’s happened with the global financial markets.
“Maybe they can’t afford gas to get out here,” suggested Michelle Lerner of the District, who was also providing information for the LaRouche PAC.
Next to Johnson and Lerner sat a sign with various world banks listed, with a foreboding “Who will be next?” sprawled across the top and several red X’s displayed for passersby to predict the next collapse.
Saturday morning, President Bush spoke about the economic crisis from the Rose Garden.
“In an interconnected world, no nation will gain by driving down the fortunes of another,” he said. “We are in this together. We will come through it together.”
