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February 2, 2002

Tens of thousands of activists demonstrated throughout midtown Manhattan to protest the World Economic Forum today in protests that show that the anti-corporate globalization movement is alive and well.

More than 5,000 people joined a demonstration called by the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition, which began at 9 a.m. in front of the hotel at 50th and Park Avenue, stretching north for five city blocks. Thousands of demonstrators joined to "meet and greet" WEF delegates who paid $25,000 to attend the gathering of the 1,000 largest transnational corporations.

Despite the presence of thousands of armed police officers, protestors were heard clearly within the Waldorf-Astoria. Their message of an end to Bush's war at home and abroad was carried from the "streets to the suites" of executives like Bill Gates and Bush officials like Colin Powell.

"The police diverted thousands of protestors who sought to access the demonstration area by establishing checkpoints, barricades and closing surrounding streets," said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, attorney for the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition

"Many people who made it through reported it took them at least an hour to navigate through the maze of obstacles set up by the police. Police told people the permit and protest were cancelled, they misdirected others, and diverted a large number of buses away," stated Verheyden-Hilliard.

Undaunted by the paramilitarized police presence, demonstrators concluded the rally by marching to Times Square to protest a showing of "Black Hawk Down," denouncing the movie as racist war propaganda.

Outside the Waldorf-Astoria, Rev. Graylan Hagler, senior minister, Plymouth Congregational Church in Washington, D.C. said, "Our detractors say the anti-globalization movement is just rich, white kids. But we are here and clear to say that we will not be separated nor marginalized. The issue we are discussing affects people at home, including people of color and the economic policies of the W.E.F. affect people of color around the world, with whom we have a kindred relationship."

The day before today's demonstration, the A.N.S.W.E.R. coalition sponsored a day-long teach-in with 500 people at the Community Church in Manhattan. Later that evening nearly 1,000 people packed a standing-room-only indoor rally at the Fashion Institute of Technology auditorium, to hear speakers representing a wide range of struggles affected by U.S. military and economic domination in the world.

Included were Palestinian, Korean, Filipino, Somali, Iraqi, Muslim, Mexican, Puerto Rican and other activists who denounced bombings, sanctions and economic devastation caused by U.S. corporate and government policies.

A large number of speakers represented labor, immigrant and civil rights, and youth. A special featured speaker was Saikou A. Diallo, the father of Amadou Diallo, who gave a moving presentation. He invited all rally participants to join him Monday evening for a family memorial for his son, killed when New York City police fired 41 shots into Diallo as he stood in the vestibule of his home in Washington Heights. Rev. Lucius Walker of IFCO/Pastors for Peace told the ANSWER teach-in, "we are asked whether it is inappropriate for us to be demonstrating against the World Economic Forum. We are the only ones who can change the world."

"The conveners of the World Economic Forum were calculating that the movement for social justice was also a casualty of the events of September 11," said A.N.S.W.E.R. organizer Larry Holmes. "The strong protests of this weekend have proven that their calculations are wrong."

Organizers will be returning home from the weekend of protest against the World Economic Forum to start planning for the April 27 March on Washington Against War and Racism.