A-Infos (en) UK, London: report on demo 28/10/02

["Al S" <klasbatalemo@yahoo.ie>]

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On Saturday, September 28th, possibly the largest
demonstration ever seen against the war took place in
London. Organisations (and this may be an
overestimation) say that almost 400,000 people took
part. The police (who always underestimate) say
figures were no higher than 150,000. It was, in any
case, a huge demonstration, and people participated
from all parts of the country (and even from abroad).

While my two mates and me were travelling down the
150km from Leicester to London, we noticed loads of
buses all going to the demo. At the demo itself, many
groups had gathered. The leftist Stop The War
Coalition, the CND, and the Islamic Association of
Britain. The latter?s intention, however, was not only
to demonstrate against the war in Iraq, but also to
support freedom in Palestine. 

I saw anarchists, anarcho-syndicalists, all different
types of Marxists, Moslems, Christians, pacifists,
environmentalists, prisoners, and red, black and
Palestinian flags etc? However, I didn?t notice one
Labour Party flag there. 

Myself and other members of AF joined the
anti-capitalist bloc and DDAWN (Direct Action Against
The War Now!) We distributed over a 1000 leaflets
calling for an end to the war can only come about by
through direct action, and that we stood for No War
But The Class War!?we were against all dictators!
- Saddam, Bush and Blair!!

As usual, we were offered the largest ?police
protection?. However, there were no street battles
with police, and no windows were smashed (and nothing
for the papers to complain about)

A young journalist from the BBC or ITV later asked 
Tony Blair: ?What do you have to say to those marching
against the war today?.? Not surprisingly, 'our'
Prime-Minister chose to completely ignore the still
naïve journalist.

Mass Murderers

Let us not forget that over 500,000 children have died
in Iraq, as a direct result of sanctions imposed by
Bush, Blair, and other politicians in the US, Britain
and other countries. How many children will die during
and after the next imperialist war?

The fact that most people here are against the war,
and the fact that over 300,000 people marched through
the streets of London to demonstrate publically
against the war means nothing to them. The fact that
Iraq is in an oil region situated in an area of
strategic importance, will always be their overriding
concern.

We say again: Only massive direct action can halt the
war!   

Report by a member of Leicester AF (translated from
the original Esperanto).


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