MEDIA RELEASE
April 13, 2000
Washington, DC - The People’s Assembly Against
the IMF/World Bank held a press conference at George Washington University
(GWU) earlier today in response to the University’s closing and canceling of
events for the weekend to accommodate the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and
the World Bank that are holding their spring meetings. Many of the events scheduled for the weekend
at GWU were teach-ins, discussions and fora devoted to education and analysis
of issues related to the UMF and World Bank and the impacts of globalization.
“When students are told that they can’t even hold events
that question global corporate control, it is a direct attack on students’ and
the public’s right to learn and know what is being done by these highly
secretive organizations,” said Audrey deJesus, a youth member of the People’s
Assembly Against the IMF/WB.
Some sympathetic members from the church community are
providing a space for the People’s Assembly forum in lieu of the GWU
venue. Dr. Carol Pagaduan Araullo,
Vice-Chair of BAYAN-Philippines, is a speaker at the forum: “What happened with the denial of the right
to use the GWU space is nothing new when people’s resistance is on the
rise. The state controlled by the
monopoly capital does not think twice about curtailing the basic freedoms even
in a supposedly democratic country like the US.”
Several students from GWU spoke at the press conference and
a large crowd joined to support the People’s Assembly. Daniel Calamuci, a Junior at GWU and
President of the Progressive Student Union, said, “It is my belief that GWU’s
canceling scheduled events starting on Friday night April 14, and closing the
dorms to non-GW students starting Monday, April 10 is both unfair and
undemocratic.”
Calamuci offered insight into the relationship of GW and the
World Bank: “This year at commencement, GW will be presenting an honorary
degree to Mr. James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank. Also, GW owns some of the World Bank
buildings. Although GW may say that it
is not taking sides in this protest, it is obvious that it has a very good
relationship with the World Bank and the IMF.”
After the press conference, the protesters marched on to Starbucks Coffee Shop and The Gap to denounce the inhuman conditions imposed on farmers and workers under the policies of the IMF/World Bank. ###