It's estimated that between 600 and 700 people were arrested and held for hours on end. Patrick Ayres, one of the activists arrested, told me that he was forced to sit on a bus for over sixteen hours without food and water and with only limited bathroom breaks. He also showed me his swollen and bruised wrists from the tight plastic handcuffs they left on him during that period. People were up as early as 4 a.m. getting ready to meet at various points around the city at 5 a.m. By 6 all the protesters were pretty much in place at various intersections.
Protesters block an intersection.
Everyone was planning for the worst and hoping for the best. While all the major roads to the World Bank were blocked, the delegates were still able to make it through and the police seemed to be content, if one can use that word, just letting the protesters claim the surrounding streets. Protesters block the intersection of 19th and I Streets. I wasn't there at the time, but the rumors are that the activists here were tear gassed. The day seemed fairly tame for the most part as far as police confrontations.