Hundreds arrested as protesters scatter through capital's streets

Friday, September 27th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) _Demonstrators chained themselves together, bicycled through downtown streets and rallied at downtown parks Friday as finance ministers began a weekend of meetings. About 600 protesters were arrested and one was slightly injured.

Although the protesters had pledged to shut down the nation's capital, there were only minimal disruptions to the morning rush as the demonstrators made their way through downtown Washington protesting against the Bush administration's environmental policies, the World Bank and ``corporate greed.'' Others protested a war against Iraq.

Most of those taken into custody were charged with blocking sidewalks or entrances and parading without a permit. About 65 people were charged with rioting after they clashed with police, broke some windows at a Citibank office and tossed smoke bombs in Washington's business district. Elsewhere, about 200 demonstrators arrested inside the White House's security zone were charged with refusing to obey a police order, according to Chief Charles Ramsey.

The financial meetings that inspired the protests began without interruption _ surrounded by fences, closed streets and lines of police.

At one downtown intersection, protesters chained themselves together. Elsewhere, demonstrators danced through the street with mud and leaves smeared on their hair and clothes. Fire trucks were called to put out a few tires set ablaze on the outskirts of town.

``This is not a police state, we have a right to demonstrate,'' chanted a group of mostly young people, some wearing bandanas over their faces. After police led dozens away, the sidewalk was littered with their personal items _ jackets, gas masks, helmets, goggles, a journal.

In a grassy area a few blocks from the White House, officers on motorcycles, horseback and foot arrested about 200 protesters who chanted and banged on drums and plastic buckets. D.C. and U.S. Park Police initially surrounded the block-long park and did not allow anyone to leave, then gradually pushed the demonstrators into one corner before arresting them.

``I don't understand why they won't let people leave,'' said one demonstrator, Keith Wagner of Brookville, Md.

Seven buses were needed to carry the protesters, followed by a truck containing bicycles, backpacks and other possessions of those arrested. As each bus pulled away, a group of around 50 supporters cheered and waved from across the street.

Among those arrested was the executive director of Greenpeace, John Passacantando, who said he was just riding his bicycle to work near the demonstration.

Also arrested: a woman clad in nothing but a bed sheet chanting slogans against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. After she took off the sheet, police officers covered her with it and took her into custody.

Braced for two more days of protests around the financial meetings, Ramsey said his officers wouldn't interfere with lawful demonstrations.

``As long as they're peaceful, they'll be OK, but we make a judgment call,'' he said.

The district's police force received 1,700 reinforcements from around the country.

Many emergency calls to 911 proved false. ``It's another protester tactic,'' Officer Tony O'Leary, a police spokesman, said of the calls. ``It's something we're prepared for.''

Dan Ueda, 25, said he was nervous as he awaited the signal to lock arms with fellow protesters for a ``snake march'' through the city.

``We're hoping not to get arrested in the first five minutes,'' said Ueda of Cliffside Park, N.J.

Said Andrew Pearson, 25, of Chapel Hill, N.C., ``I wish more of our movement concentrated on its message than its tactics, like running through the streets.''

Many commuters heeded officials' advice to avoid driving into the downtown area and, with only a few exceptions, traffic kept flowing.

In April 2000, police arrested about 1,300 people during similar, but generally peaceful demonstrations.