Home > Thousands of Britons Protest War in Iraq
Edito Social Forum Demos-Actions Wars and conflicts UK
by TIM ELFRINK
Thousands of anti-war and anti-globalization activists marched through central
London and filled Trafalgar Square on Sunday to protest the U.S.-led coalition’s
presence in Iraq.
The march marked the culmination of the third European Social Forum - three days
of speeches, workshops and debates largely dominated by Iraq and the U.S. presidential
election.
Marchers carried signs reading World's No. 1 Terrorist'' over a picture of
President Bush. British Prime Minister Tony Blair was also a target, with placards
readingOut with Blair.’’
Several activists blew loud whistles or joined in political chants as they trudged
through the capital on a cold, rainy day. Police estimated that 15,000 to 20,000
people set off from Russell Square around 1 p.m., but organizers announced that
75,000 had reached Trafalgar Square by 3:30 p.m.
While the forum discussed a range of issues concerning privatization and globalization, the march was almost overwhelmingly devoted to opposition to the war in Iraq and the Bush administration.
I've been coming to every demonstration against Bush I can,'' said Liz Mawl, a resident of London carrying anOut with Bush’’ sign.
His foreign policy is very destabilizing for the entire international community, and I'm not sure Americans realize that's bad for them as well,'' she said.
Many of the marchers said they hoped to send a message to American voters ahead of the Nov. 2 U.S. elections through the demonstration.I think our message to Americans is simple: Don’t vote for Bush,’’ said Emma Jane Berridge, a London resident.
The protest was largely peaceful, apart from a few scuffles around the main stage in Trafalgar Square, where stewards linked arms to hold the crowd back and one man was carried away by police.
Most activists were happy to distinguish between Bush and his country. Some chanted that the United States was a terrorist state,'' but the majority of the criticism was leveled at Bush's foreign policy rather than America as a nation.These rallies are always anti-Bush, nothing more,’’ said Andrea Needham, who carried her daughter, Esme, with a sign proclaiming Babies go waaaaa for Bush.''I’ve never met anyone at a rally who was anti-American, even though that’s how the media like to portray these protests,’’ she said.
One American on the march said taking part was bittersweet.
Watching this makes me want to cry,'' said Erin Kiefer, a student from New York carrying anOut with Bush’’ sign. ``I know it’s anti-Bush and not anti-American, but it kills me that he represents our nation so poorly, that he speaks for us as Americans.’’
The march was organized in conjunction with the forum by the Stop the War Coalition and the Muslim Association of Britain.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4557190,00.html
Forum posts
18 October 2004, 08:16
We never hear the point of view of the iraqis themselves as we always speak for them.
Iraqis are grown-up enough to think by themselves :-)
Here is a very interesting analysis by one of them of the stakes of that election at:
– http://messopotamian.blogspot.com/2004_10_01...
29 November 2004, 06:05
I wish you could come over here and protest! Many Americans know full well what is going on, but we are unsure what can be done about it. Many of us believe that this election 2004 (as well as 2000) was stolen/rigged, but with a Republican dominated House & Senate, we’ re having a hard time getting anyone to listen to us. Most people do not want to believe conspiracy theories, but even so, those of us who believe are doing what we can to keep on spreading the word, trying to educate and elucidate others as best we can. There are many organized groups, but so far no organized mass protests. It’s not like the 60s and 70s with Civil Rights and Vietnam and Women’s Rights protests. So many have grown complacent it’s hard to shake them up. And unlike those earlier decades where the student movements provided a catalyst, the Bush administration and the radical right have already done a thorough job of seducing college kids.
Please don’t give up on Americans. Many of us are trying to be heard, and we want Bush and his cronies out of the government worse than you do, believe me! He and his cronies are repugnant to millions of Americans. But with rigged elections and a radical, fundamentalist right using Christianity as a weapon to divide instead of unite, it is difficult. Millions of us hate what Bush and his cohorts are doing to our country. Please pray for us, and tell everyone that not all Americans are blind and ignornant - just half of them!