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CNN Live Saturday

Protesters Increase in Number Near World Economic Forum

Aired February 02, 2002 - 14:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Protesters in New York City are stepping up their presence at a meeting of the rich and powerful today. CNN's Jason Carroll is in the power zone -- the World Economic Forum, that is. And it's day three at the Waldorf Astoria. Hi there, Jason.

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi there to you, Fredricka.

It is day three, and so far so good in terms of how the protests have been going so far. I'm standing about two blocks from the Waldorf Astoria out here on Park Avenue. If you take a look behind me, you can see all the protesters that have gathered out here. They stretch from this edge of Park Avenue all the way up the street. I want you to come out here so you can see. They stretch about four blocks going north up on Park Avenue. But as you can see from the pictures here, police have them sectioned off into different groups. That way they're able to maintain control.

There's about 1,000 protesters that are out here; some 4,000 police officers that are assigned to the World Economic Forum. The protest that you're seeing out here right now is being sponsored by a group called the ANSWER Coalition. That stands for Act Now to Stop War and Racism. But there are a number of people in the crowd there that are not affiliated with any group at all, but they still wanted to have their voices heard.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm concerned that the world is increasingly run by a small number of very wealthy people who have no regard for working people. They exploit workers and destroy the planet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm disgusted of the fact that after the disaster of September 11, these rich parasites and billionaires should come here to celebrate. These are the people that cause misery all over the world.

CARROLL: Only those groups that have a permit are allowed to come out here and protest. So far, according to police, there have been two arrests this morning; both of those arrests for disorderly conduct. But other than that, it's pretty much been a vocal, but a peaceful, demonstration -- Fredricka.

WHITFIELD: All right, very good. So far so good. Thanks very much, Jason Carroll, in New York.

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