Similar demonstrations were the rule around the Northwest.

The Olympia throng included high school and college students, anti-war organizations and activists from a hodgepodge of groups. They departed from four locations, on foot and bicycle, chanting and dancing and occasionally stopping for brief speeches about war, globalism and other issues.

They converged downtown, blocking Plum Street in front of City Hall and the Police Department for about an hour, then marched toward the state Capitol Building, shutting down traffic on the town's main drag for about 30 minutes before heading back downtown.

Police made three arrests for minor offenses, including obstructing traffic and spray-painting graffiti on a billboard.

Police were relieved that protesters didn't shut down a major city bridge.

"This year, they seemed bent on just wandering around town, buzzing around and stopping and then walking some more, and disrupting traffic," said Police Cmdr. Steve Nelson.

He said many participants seemed to be in a party mood.

In Seattle, about 300 people gathered to press their causes, including amnesty for undocumented workers and understanding for foreigners.

In Portland, a May Day rally and parade drew several hundred people who spoke out for workers' rights and to protest federal immigration policies.