There was no tear gas, pepper spray or police in riot gear outside the Federal Building in downtown Salt Lake City Monday, but the message of World Bank protesters during rush hour was the same as those who converged on Washington the past few days.
Less than 100 peaceful protesters, many holding signs with slogans like "end globalized crime" and "corporate gain = human pain," gathered on the corner of State and 100 South to show their support for fellow World Bank protesters in Washington and voice their own disdain toward the World Bank and International Monetary Fund .Protesters included activists from the Glen Canyon Action Network, a group in favor of draining Lake Powell, and Students for a Free Tibet, Green Party and Labor Party.
"I really think there is a crack in the wall that is making itself manifest and this is one of the manifestations," said Green Party of Utah co-chair, David Rowland, pointing to the crowd of protesters Monday.
Rowland was one of a handful of speakers who addressed demonstrators, decrying the World Bank and IMF's destruction of the environment, favoring of global corporations and dumping of serious debt on third-world countries.
"I think there could be a better distribution of the wealth," Rowland told the crowd.
Many of the protesters argued the World Bank and IMF should operate in a more democratic manner, giving citizens around the world opportunities for input and approval of their policies. Others called for its disbanding.
"We feel that things need to be examined more clearly," said protester Peggy Christensen. "Corporations seem to have more power than individuals."
The peaceful protests were nothing like demonstrations last year in Seattle, where police shot tear gas and rubber bullets at crowds, and the recent protests in Washington, where police used smoke bombs and pepper spray to dissuade activists.
Only a handful of police monitored Monday's activities in downtown Salt Lake.
As cars buzzed by the Federal Building, some honking their horns in support of the demonstrators, the group sang songs berating World Bank and IMF policies and put on a mock trial for Questar, one Utah company they say fits into the category of "exploitative multinational corporations."
While the skits and songs were in jest, the message behind the music and mockery was clear.
"There's a real unity here," Rowland said. "That unity ensures some voices are going to be heard in the halls of power and some are not. There is just not a lot of care given to each individual voice in our society."
You can reach Derek Jensen by e-mail at djensen@desnews.com