Georgetown Targeted for 'October Rebellion'
CALLING GEORGETOWN the home of "neoliberalism," upcoming protests against the International Monetary Fund and World Bank will target the neighborhood with an evening of "disruptive actions" on Oct. 19 through what the protesters' October Rebellion Web site says is "Washington's seat of power ... a playground for the rich ... [whose] residents possess enormous wealth at the expense of the poor majority who live so close to them."
While the group doesn't detail what specific actions could be taken in the neighborhood, organizers write that "[t]his will be a rowdy march, and the coalition embraces a diversity of tactics. Please plan accordingly." Maps and photos of Georgetown are posted on the site, along with an indictment of the neighborhood and its "capitalist" commercial core:
Georgetown will also play host to thousands of delegates sleeping in their hotels and partying in exclusive nightclubs with guest lists that don't allow the general public in. They will join the same people who wreak havoc on DC by building condominiums in place of torn-down public housing, shutting down our only public hospital, closing our schools and giving property away to greedy developers; local gentrifiers, congressmen, senators, and DC government administrators who call Georgetown home.The protesters will gather at Washington Circle in Foggy Bottom on Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. and then will proceed into Georgetown. Since the organizing information has been posted online, it's safe to assume that local police will be on hand to greet them.
The commenting section for the Georgetown action organizing page has been pretty lively, with the neighborhood's very own exclusive Late Night Shots online social networking club being cited as justification enough for targeting the neighborhood.
» "October 2007 IMF and World Bank Actions" [October Rebellion]
» "Members Only" [City Paper]
Photo of IMF/World Bank protests in 2005 by Susan Biddle/The Washington Post
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Addison Road
Man that site is priceless. They have absolutely no idea what they're talking about. Georgetown is hardly the "seat" of power. It's not even the "seat" of the richest people. That's Foxhall/Pallisades. But that would be too far of a walk and isn't as "catchy" as Georgetown.
You can always count on plenty of ignorant college kids to give the far left a bad name.
By anon , Posted October 9, 2007 9:54 AMwhat a bunch of ignorant fools. a giant waste of their time and everyone else's. the snippet you give from their 'indictment' just shows how immature they sound (and likely are). marching in black bandanas down M street isn't going to convince anyone anywhere to change or do anything.
By IMGoph , Posted October 9, 2007 11:54 AMLook at the comments posted already...looks like some comfortable lifestyles are being threatended. if it's not in your face, you won't listen.
By Freedom Rider , Posted October 16, 2007 9:17 AMThe first two comments calling these protesters "ignorant fools" should avoid name calling and merely dismissing these groups. They are misguided in using protest that isn't peaceful, but they are correct in stating that the current global scheme of development has resulted in worldwide inequality, which in the long run, harms productivity and leads to personal tragedy. They are only foolish to the extent that they do not express their concerns clearly or in a peaceful manner.
By Ron Martin , Posted October 19, 2007 5:03 PMIf you would pay attention to what was really going on, we were not calling Georgetown a seat of power for the rich, nor were we calling any particular place a seat of power, its the symbolic state of Washington that we are calling the "seat of power". The purpose to disrupt Georgetown was just that, To disrupt it. The delegates of the IMF and World bank eat drink and sleep in Georgetown while they are meeting in DC, and all we wanted to do was throw them out. And we accomplished our goals.. no more parties for them. While you may call our actions foolish, or childish, we know what we are doing, what we are talking about and are FAR from ignorant.
By tazztic , Posted October 23, 2007 12:45 PM