A mass mobilization is scheduled this weekend in Washington, D.C. to protest the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund. Organizers are expecting the weekend events to be the largest anti-corporate globalization convergence in the U.S. since the Sept. 11 attacks.

Dozens of demonstrations and teach-ins are planned ranging from a People’s Strike called by the Anti-Capitalist Convergence to a day-long forum organized by 50 Years Is Enough to call for the end of the IMF.

While the larger scale protests are expected to take place on Friday and Saturday, a number of smaller demonstrations are getting under way today.

At 3:30 p.m., a protest is planned in support of local hotel and restaurant workers. That demonstration will take place in front of the Ronald Reagan International Trade Building.

Then at 5 p.m., there is going to be another protest in front of the International Monetary Fund headquarters. That demonstration will be against practices in the tobacco industry.

Today we are joined by three activists who have traveled from South Africa and Fiji to take part in this week’s anti-IMF protests as well as a spokesperson from the World Bank.

Guests:

• Mzonke Mayekiso, president of the National Association of Residents and Civics Organizations (NARCO) in Johannesburg.
• Sarah Mtembu, treasurer of National Association of Residents and Civics Organizations (NARCO), and a founding member of the Alexandra Action Committee (AAC).
• Shelly Rao, coordinator of the Economic and Social Justice Program at the Ecumenical Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy in Suva, Fiji.
• Eric Chinje, World Bank, Senior Communications Officer at the World Bank and Vice Chair of the World Bank/IMF Africa Club.

Related links:

• 50 Years Is Enough
• World Bank
• Washington D.C. Independent Media Center
• Mobilization for Global Justice