Streets fill with protests against economic forum

NEW YORK -- After two days of quiet, thousands of protesters emerged Feb. 2 to demonstrate against the World Economic Forum in New York City. Marchers who had gathered in Central Park around noon began a procession of puppets and signs that ended within the shadows of the Waldorf-Astoria hotel, where the forum was held.\nOver 1,000 police officers from nearly a dozen local, state and federal agencies filled the streets -- on foot, motorcycles, horseback and in cars, vans and buses -- ready to act if protesters got out of line. \nMost of those gathered seemed to have one common idea -- globalization wrong. Some carried signs against capitalism, others found different means to get their message across. One middle aged man began dancing.\n"This is the tango from Argentina. This is the dance of the poor," he told listeners. "The WEF, right down this street, has bankrupt our country. That's why we're protesting."\nOrganizers began the march by leading marchers in song.\n"Rise up, keep the spirit alive. Come together, keep the movement alive."\nTwo dozen large puppets depicting corporate leaders and politicians led the parade, followed by thousands more protesters, some parts of groups like the Queens Green Party.\nChants, like "earth first, profits last," filled the several blocks marchers took to the hotel. "There will be nothing left, thanks to the WEF," could also be heard.\nAt one point, nine people dressed as Lady Liberty, ran to the front of the march, stopping it temporarily, to sing their own version of "New York, New York."\nThey sang for "peace and justice," to the music of the song. "If they can whip us here, they'll whip us anywhere. It's up to you, New York, New York."\n Along the parade route, police had erected barricades that participants had to remain behind or be arrested. The tactic kept some lanes of traffic open during the march, but other motorists had to wait for a half hour or more until marchers had moved past their intersections.\n Occasionally, organizers would stop the march -- already slower than the exodus at a packed sporting event -- to discuss options among themselves, prompting the police to demand they either keep moving or disperse.\n "Either you move, or it's over," the New York City police commander leading the march said.\nA square box of more than 60 New York City police officers led the march, with officers almost shoulder to shoulder along the route up against buildings on one side and in the street on the other. \n"People were more afraid -- it was such a show of force. And now that there has been conflict at several of these types of events. I think police have a lot more leeway to use that force," one activist, Alabama Evers, 19, told The Associated Press. \nAnother protester said Sept. 11 had changed the relationship between police and demonstrator.\n"After Sept. 11, I think people are seeing cops in a different light," Robert Wing, 19, told the AP.\nProtesters represented various causes, including animal rights, environmental protection, fair trade, and many others. Many chanted that they wanted to "shut down the WEF."\n"Save whatever's left," they said. "Get rid of the WEF."\nKabir Karim, a New Yorker originally from Peterborough, England, was holding a sign reading "Free Palestinians." He said the world leaders must act, both politically and economically, to end the crisis in the occupied territories.\n"The start of it is political, then economic, because, Palestine, let's face it, is just one big refugee camp," he said. "People there are desperate, which is why they are spearheading Hamas and Hezbola. They've got no choice."\nOnce the front of the march had reached the end point, police stood ready with temporary barricades, blocking in protesters, journalists and photographers alike. The area around the Waldorf -- about three to four blocks in each direction -- was off-limits to anyone without proper identification who wanted in.\nPolice arrested 38 protesters Saturday. Sunday, however, saw increased tension between police and protesters, 159 of whom were arrested by the evening, according to the AP.