Yes, I know, it's to be a non-violent protest designed to blockade the World Bank and prevent the April 16 and 17 meetings there. Seattle was supposed to be non-violent too, until somebody decided it would be a good idea to loot the nearest Starbucks. Covers their asses, but it doesn't give me a whole lot of confidence. I know there will be a lot of people rallying in support of some really important issues, and maybe smashing up a Niketown seems like a good first step to smashing global capitalism. But this isn't just a protest site.
People live here.
I'd like to feel secure in knowing that my home and my office won't be damaged just for being in the wrong neighborhood. They managed to escalate the actions of a small group of people to a level that caused millions of dollars worth of damage. Try to keep your heads. This could be more dangerous than the last time the Dallas Cowboys decided rush hour was a good time to bus through town with their police escort. Currently a resident of Washington, DC, Elizabeth grew up outside of Philadelphia and holds a Master's degree in political theory from the University of Virginia.