Unlike their counterparts in Seattle last fall, Washington-area police maintained a strong upper hand against World Bank/IMF protesters. McDonald’s and Starbucks retained their windows and, aside from excessive litter and traffic jams, little harm was inflicted by the often disoriented protesters. In the end, those who couldn’t pointlessly shut down the World Bank/IMF, voluntarily stood in line to be arrested. The Washington Post captured the bizarre nature of yesterday’s street theater: “Over a steel, bicycle-rack-like barricade at Pennsylvania and 20th Street NW, the final stand-down was hammered out by D.C. Executive Assistant Police Chief Terrance W. Gainer and a woman dressed as a tree.”
