On Sept. 25, thousands of protesters are expected to flock to the District to protest the latest round of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings. In the past the city has responded admirably, providing enough police officers to create a safe environment without being threatening or constricting. Last fall 5,000 officers from both nearby precincts and other cities were on hand, although the meetings were cancelled in the wake of Sept. 11.
Due to a funding argument with the federal government, Tony Bullock, spokesman for Mayor Anthony Williams, has threatened to decrease the presence of Metropolitan police at the protest in order to force the federal government to provide security. The meetings have already been moved from the Mariott Wardman Park Hotel in Woodley Park to the IMF and World Bank headquarters downtown, since there are not enough officers to secure the Mariott site.
Although Police Chief Charles Ramsey has requested 3,000 additional officers to supplement the 1,400 D.C. police officers assigned to the protests, he has received a commitment of only 700. According to Ramsey, support has been slow in coming because jurisdictions are concerned that the District might not be reimbursed by the federal government to cover the cost of extra police protection, and therefore would not be able to pay the additional officers.
The District is seeking reimbursement for both the upcoming IMF protests and those held in April 2002 under President Bush’s plan to provide $15 million to the city in fiscal year 2003 to cover the costs of the events. The federal government argues that the April 2002 protests are not covered by the President’s proposal since they occurred in fiscal year 2002, and is refusing to reimburse the District for any costs incurred during that time.
As both the city and federal government point fingers at one another and cut corners to save money, the basic issue?the safety of the protesters and the maintenance of order?is being overlooked completely. Without proper police presence, it is entirely possible that riots much like those at the Seattle World Bank protests in 1999 could happen in D.C.
Both the District and the federal government should look beyond their budget woes and refocus on one of the most basic tenets of government, the protection of the people. Regardless of cost, a strong police presence must be maintained at the protests, or the District could face consequences far more costly than simply paying more officers.
