The shutdown organized in Washington, DC by the Anti Capitalist Convergence was wildly successful this morning. Downtown streets were almost deserted by the fact that most workers had stayed home. Those who did go to work, did so
late in the morning, if they hadn't been delayed by the mass civil disobedience in the streets this morning.

It was very encouraging to see and hear about so many actions that were organized by affinity groups.

The police did their part in disrupting traffic with their over-the-top response to demonstraters. At one point, they shut down two blocks of 12th street, a major traffic artery, for a half hour as they arrested more than 70 people.

Later, several hundred people were surrounded in a park near Freedom Plaza, where they had gathered to do a drum circle. The police arrested over 350 people and transported them on 9 buses to the Blue Plains facility in southeast Washington. While most of the protesters walked out of the park without resisting, the cops brutalized several people, including two guys that they dragged across the intersection and into a van.

I've been told that over 500 people have been arrested today. The police chief has threatened to detain them until Monday, but under D.C. law, you have to be arraigned within 48 hours.

I've gotten word that the entire Pagan Bloc was arrested.

There will be a meeting tonight at 6 pm at the ACC Convergence Center about doing jail support.

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