Marchers Protest Aid to Columbia

By The Associated Press

April 22, 2002

Protesters marched to the Capitol on Monday, proclaiming their opposition to U.S. military aid to Colombia and their commitment to nonviolence. They sang, hugged and mingled under a heavy police presence that kept streets mostly clear for the morning commute.

Scores of police on horseback, motorcycles, bicycles and foot flanked the demonstrators, keeping them from tying up intersections for long on their march from the Washington Monument. Commuters appeared to face little more than the usual traffic snarls.

The protesters did not have a permit for their march to Capitol Hill and more than 30 were arrested in a crowd that police officials estimated at 1,000 to 3,000 at its height.

"People are being very peaceful and I appreciate it,'' Police Chief Charles Ramsey said.

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