FREDERICK, Md (WUSA) -- Police here were preparing for the possibility of thousands of protesters angry about the G 8 summit a few miles away at Camp David.
Just a couple of dozen showed up.
Chanting "no bombs, no tanks, let's burn the @*$&! banks," the marched from the public library through downtown to Baker Park. There they sat in the shade of a weeping willow on a brilliant blue day and chatted.
Police had been particularly worried about a group called The Black Block, anarchists who have been known to smash windows and raid banks. One woman who went by "Nancy M" said she was part of the Anarchists' Alliance of DC. She said she was non-violent, but said she respects others tactics and refused to condemn mischief.
But so far, there hasn't been any.
Maryland State Troopers on horseback were out in force. And so were plenty of Frederick City police officers, who politely directed traffic away from the afternoon parade.
The owner of Heritage Antiques downtown was worried enough about violence that he boarded up his windows. But most people walking by said they were "surprised" by that, or thought it was "silly."
Written and Reported by Bruce Leshan
9News Now & wusa9.com
Twitter: @BruceLeshan