DC -- Riots/Protests expected Sept 29 and 30?
 

Need some help from those of you living in DC. Just learned that 40,000 protestors are expected to demonstrate at the Global Bank meeting, Sept 29 and 30. My city, Charlotte, is sending 100 police officers to help out. <BR> <BR>I've planned a trip to DC Sept 27 through Oct 1 with my parents, who are in the late 70s. Should we cancel? (We'll lose tickets to Ford Theater and Capitol Steps and $100 each in changing air itinerary.) <BR> <BR>Just how bad will this be? How bad was it last year? Anybody know where the protests are expected to be held? We're staying at the Hotel Washington, very near the White House. <BR> <BR>Please give me your best advice on this. <BR> <BR>Thanks! <BR> <BR>

ttt

You should not by any means cancel your trip to our city. The police will be in full control, and you will be relatively free of even any indication these people are here. There major impact would of course come if life were to be shut down. The GW University has announced that its classes will be cancelled during those 2-3 days, but that's all I've heard. The area will be fenced off by the police. You need to keep in mind DC's very long tradition managing events of this type. These people are minor figures indeed compared to what I've personally seen here in the past 30 years. Come to DC and have a nice time, and do not worry about the riff raff. They're here primarily to give our media a diversion from covering their normal beat of car crashes and drug deals gone bad. Ciao

For once, Leone and I are pretty much in agreement. Visiting the White House will be difficult as might some areas of the Mall but most of the rest of town should be pretty much open. George Washington University, which is pretty much buying up everything not a government building between 18th and 24th streets, will be closed because of its proximity to many of the World Bank and IMF buildings. I'll be struggling to open my business during the World Bank riots, I mean protests.

Leone and Roger, <BR> <BR>Should we get a hotel farther away from the White House? (We're staying at Hotel Washington.) <BR> <BR>Which areas of the mall will be difficult to visit? My 79-year-old father is especially interested in the Smithsonian and the trip would be wasted for him if he couldn't spend quite a bit of time there. <BR> <BR>Thanks!! If you want to answer offline, please email [email protected] <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR> <BR>

Don't cancel the trip but you might well want to choose another hotel because of the Washington's location in the middle of everything. If you are a little further out, you can decide whether to stick close to where you are or venture downtown on those two days. Possibilities: Shoreham area up where you could go to the Zoo, walk DuPont Circle and Embassy area or take Metro up to Silver Spring (great restaurants); or else Alexandria and reserve the two days for puttering around Old Town or going down to Mt. Vernon. <BR> <BR>Re:Smithsonian -- go the 28th.

Your hotel is of course on 15th Street, NW, just two blocks from the White House ... but off in a direction away from the main hoopla. If you wished, you could move two addditonal blcoks away, to the Marriott at 12th or 13th and Pa. Ave NW. In your place, I would not feel the need to go any further, and certainly not out to DuPont Circle or the Zoo. Keep in mind many of the protesters may be staying in the far NW area, thus on Metro. Besides, your main interest appears to be in the direction of the Capitol, along the Mall. Thus stay close. And let me just share this thought: when these types of events are planned, many organizers threaten to shut down DC. They are dreaming. This is not the late 1960's, and even then the main problems occurred on the weekends with 500,000 plus. This time we're looking for an est. 100,000. And there will be a fence literally around the enitre area ... about 2-3 miles long ... this is what the police announce a month ago. DC is quite aware of what took place in Seattle and Genoa, and thus the event has been shortened to 2+ days. Our business here is government, and the police have other resources available should they need them. When people believe they can shut down DC to demonstrate one issue, they forget they are only one of thousands of the key issues going on here. Thus, we cannot afford to have DC shut down, thus it will not happen. Look in today's Washington Post, op-ed, for the views of one of the organizers. I hope this helps ... part of knowing how it will be is to understand the mindset of DC. They haven't made the issue yet that will close us down. In fact, if they refuse to behave they will be harming their own cause ... the media will be watching a they are arrested. After their event is over, they will be forgotten. We have much bigger fish to fry these days. The end of the fiscal year is approaching, and some budgets have yet to be passed. Now that's an issue that could shut us down. Enjoy DC. Ciao

I pretty much agree with Leone. This is not the passive Seattle or Quebec police forces or even the semi-passive Genoan police force that let things get out of hand recently. Not only will there be DC cops (generally mediocre) but there will be an array of federal cops. Last protest, I got to see some of these cops up close. The Federal cops had this hungry look in their eyes like they really wanted to put the wood to the scrawny-looking protesters that faced them. Many had the demeanor of the pit bull. Control will be maintained; you will be safe.

Leone's right Arabella. People don't shut down DC. (Just pray they don't get snow!) LOL.

We all blast Leone (either with posts or silently) but I'll take this time to say your post was very good. <BR> <BR>Thank you, Leone. <BR> <BR>Ps. Anyone know if the riots are using egroups.com for organizing, like Trust The People did for the Election? <BR> <BR>

Now, Stella, don't you dare mention snow ... I tried to finesse it ... because that is something that would shut us down. For your punishment in being a truth sayer, Marlon will phone you in a few minutes and scream your name four times ... stay off the line. Ciao

Yup, you can count on DC govt. and police to protect residents from free expression of dissent. You cannot, however, count on them to avoid injuring anyone as they do so. Protestors are presumed a priori to be terrorists. Never fear, order WILL be maintained, whether or not protestors create a dangerous situation or remain orderly. <BR> <BR>Mayor Daley's Chicago of 1968 is the model for this and memory of the Potomac Bridge and MLK riots is very persistent. The police will be armed for bear, hippopotomus, rhino, HumVees, and tanks.

And yup, that was a partial troll on my part. Just fascinates me that no one has any idea what anyone is protesting, just that they might disrupt tourism.

Thanks so much for the sound advice. I'm passing it on to my parents and letting them make the decision.

Oh, UnLeone, we know, we know. It's not that complicated. For example, see the Post today, Op_ed page - one of the organizers gives us his take. The protesters gave a preview of coming attractions in Seattle and Italy. By the way, I know what occurred in that park in Chicago in 1968, and in DC in April 1968 when MLK was killed. Were you in either place? Do not insult DC with your ignorance. The cops in Chicago "rioted" (see the Kerner Commission report) ... and in DC, the crowds were so enormous they destroyed property at will for 10 days, while we had curfews. To compare the two events is strange, unless one simply doesn't understand what occurred. Ciao

Not only is GW cancelling classes, it's shutting down its dorms and kicking the students off campus. Idiots. (I graduated from there. I'm allowed to name call). <BR> <BR>I think you'd be okay on the Mall, but you really never know what's going to happen. As an earlier poster said, plan days outside the city for 9/29 & 9/30, to Old Town Alexandria, Baltimore, Annapolis, etc.

The Kerner Commission was full of ***p, Leone. Jerry Rubin, Tom Hayden and the rest of those punks got what they had coming to them. Supposively the Chicago rioters were protesting the Vietnam War but, honestly, very few of them would ever have been considered for service; they were wimps. Most of them were protesting America more than that stupid war. That's why the North Vietnamese flag was such a hot item on the more radical campuses.

Well, Roger, I can see you point, and I do recall hearing the same at the time. I am of a different persuasion. So, I'll just leave those issues to another time. Ciao

My parents are braver than I am; we're coming to DC as planned. <BR> <BR>One last question: when planning a trip, how do you find out about protests, bike rallies or other events that may detract from your experience?

This meeting has been canceled <BR> <BR>Check with your airline if you have to fly into Dulles instead of National airport. Smme airlines are providing <BR>shuttle service to National. Other ground transportationis also available. <BR> <BR>If flying into BWI you can use Amtrac,Marc trains or theSuper Shuttle Service (1-800-258-3826) Shuttle is $30.00 each way for oneperson, each additional person is $8.00.