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Britain: 350,000 march in London to say no to Blair's war plans
Workers Power Global, London: 29 September 2002
It was the biggest anti-war protest since the anti-Vietnam marches of the late 1960s. Hundreds and hundreds of coaches brought protesters from the length and breadth of Britain. Anything between 350,000 and 400,000 people marched through central London. Taking several hours to wend its way through the city.
Organised by the Stop The War Coalition - dominated by trade union, socialist and peace organisations ö and the Muslim Association of Great Britain, protesters marched from the Thames embankment, past the Houses of Parliament and 10 Downing Street, the residence of Tony Blair, to Hyde Park.
Colourful Trade Unions banners from across the whole spectrum of the Labour movement, mingled with countless Palestinian flags carried by the Muslim and refugees communities. Very noticeable was how many young people on the streets.
Slogans most frequently raised were "George Bush we know you: your daddy was a killer too", ãOne-two-three-four, we donât want your racist war; five-six-seven-eight, stop the anger, stop the hateä and ãWho let the bombs out? Bush! Blair! Sharon!ä.
Lively contingents of REVO youth sang: "Bush, Blair are ready to attack; we stand together to defend Iraq"
Workers Power members, talking to people as they handed out masses of papers and leaflets became clear just how many of them were on their first demonstration, just how angry they were against the US/UK warmongers, how determined they were that this would not be their last demonstration.
In the huge rally in Hyde Park speakers included representatives of the Muslim Council of Britain, George Galloway MP, the rail union leaders - Bob Crow, general secretary of the RMT, and Mick Rix, general secretary of ASLEF, Tam Daly MP former MP Tony Been, the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter,
Speaker after speaker called for no let up in the campaign to stop the war, for militant action, to make it impossible for Blair and Bush to massacre Iraqi men women and children.
A whole new generation is being mobilised and radicalised by Bush and Blairâs war and by the brutal Israeli persecution of the Palestinians. What is needed now is a massive campaign in every school, college, workplace for direct action, strike action to stop the war drive and halt Ariel Sharonâs murderous occupation of the Palestinian towns cities and refugee camps.
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