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London: 50000 join anti-war protest (Update)
By: BBC/stopwar on: 17.03.2008 [02:51 ] (833 reads)
The Samba band were the best part of the protest, continuing for an hour, brightening spirits and attracting quite an audience after the end of the pathetic attempt at a rally in Parliament Square - stopwar
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Thousands join anti-war protests in London and Glasgow
Organisers said there were 40,000 people
Thousands of people have joined demonstrations in London and Glasgow, to mark the fifth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.
Demonstrators called for troops to be withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan and for Gaza's borders to be re-opened.
Organisers said 40,000 people took part in London but police said 10,000. A Stop the War spokesman said Iraq had made the world a more dangerous place.
But a Foreign Office spokesman said Iraq was making "steady progress".
Green MEP Caroline Lucas called for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to be prosecuted for war crimes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7298205.stm
I wrote a much more detailed report initially, but the site "timed me out" so I lost everything. Not wrirting it again, so read the report and comments at:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/393992.html?c=on#c191319
to get a flavour of the day. No doubt, the speeches will be on youtube in due course - I hope so, I'd like to hear what was said in Parliament Square, because there was 50000 people and very little noise amplification and the stage was little more than a soap box - in stark contrast to the Cease Fire Now demonstration at the same rally point when Israel were attacking Lebanon.
Trafalgar Square was good, before the march, with some excellent speeches. Two of the best were from George Galloway and Tony Benn. Best videos I could find, so soon after the rally are:
George Galloway http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FBVj1U4Y8A
Tony Benn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCub-VgMz1A
Also listen to an interview with Tony Benn on the eve of the event:
http://www.spiderednews.com/GeorgeGalloway.htm?vid=270997
No trouble at the march itself, police generally good humoured, as usual on these occasions. However, apparently, four people were arrested near Trafalgar Square for photographing undercover "FIT" police. Arrested under Trades Union legislaton. Interesting! Full story:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/393970.html?c=on#c191290
One interesting comment from the above:
police jobs
16.03.2008 13:22
I spoke to a police officer and asked if he knew that paying taxes to the Central UK Government constituted Illegal activity in that it is defined as 'conduct ancilliary to the commisssion of a war crime' under the 2001 International Crimianl Court Act 2001.
The police officer indicated that he was aware, but that "it's more than my jobsworth" (his words) to withold his tax payments.
Which is to say that his job is more important than the lives of Iraqi and Afghan Civilians, and that upholding the Law is of lessor importance.....
War Criminals!
El Gordo "Fat boy" Brown
More EXCELLENT pics of the march:
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/393895.html?c=on#c191289
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/394036.html
In summary... great opportunity, great route for the march, good people there, but another opportunity sadly lost by STW. YET AGAIN! I just hope there'll be more passion shown by the organisers (CND this time) at the nuclear weapons factory, Aldermaston on Easter Monday.
by Syrian on 17.03.2008 [09:45 ]
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The british government has murdered many people in the 7/7 attack. Do you think protests will get any message through to them?
Gordon Brown sold off half of britian's gold, to prop up the world fiat currencies, in vain. Do you think your protests will get any messages through to him?
The time for feel good protests is over. The population has been disarmed and the government doesn't fear an uprising at all.
What can you do? I do not know. But protesting like this will achieve nothing but make people think they've "done their duty". Meanwhile, Palestinians, Afghanis and Iraqis are butchered.
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by CANUKISTAN_VIEW on 17.03.2008 [09:58 ]
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Last year I wrote: Let me reproduce the savage thinking of these imperial western politicians. Cecil Rhodes, a British politician back in 1825 said:
“I am perfectly convinced that my idea represents the solution of the social problem, namely; to save the forty million inhabitants of the United Kingdom from a tragic civil war, we colonial politicians must dominate new territories in order to locate the surplus population in them, to find new markets in which to place the products of our factories and our mines. The empire, I have always said, is a question of stomach. If you do not want civil war, you must become imperialists”. Ref. G. Behyaut, 1963, p. 5.
On September 13, 2007, in the UN Assembly, the shameless Anglo-Saxon imperial colonies, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, were the only countries that opposed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which sets out the individual and collective rights of the world’s 370 million native peoples, calls for the maintenance and strengthening of their cultural identities, and emphasizes their right to pursue development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations. The documents calls for the protections for the human rights of indigenous peoples, adopting a landmark declaration that brought to an end nearly 25 years of contentious negotiations OVER THE RIGHTS OF NATIVE PEOPLE TO PROTECT THEIR LANDS AND RESOURCES, and to maintain their unique cultures and traditions.
Barbaric European, with their parasite and incapable monarchic rulers, is unable to develop a sustainable socio-economic model for their subjects that would allow them to live in peace and strive without the need for looting and killing others. At first they killed between themselves and now are killing in the entire planet. Their ruler’s greed exceeds what this entire planet can ever produce.
SO YOUNG BRITS DO NOT LET YOUR GREEDY RULERS BECOME RICHER WITH YOUR BLOOD!
CHEERS FROM CANADA - PEACE PEACE
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by Syrian on 17.03.2008 [11:47 ]
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Not unlike America, the UK is the perfect orwellian state with total gun bans, CCTVs everywhere and the MI6 killing head policemen and politicians like dave kelly.
Unlike America though, its population is not armed, and are helpless sheep to be mowed down by policemen and servicemen who don't give a shit.
I really like the british people, especially those I've met in my travels around the world. But the future doesn't look bright for Britian, Eric Arthur Blair was so right its scary. These protesters are lucky, they're not being bashed infront of parliment square. These protests are not affective at all.
They could boycott the government. They could disobey the rules, they CAN fight back, but not by these kinds of protests. I'm afraid its going to need more intesity, el la General Strike that brought down the fascist government of France in the 60s.
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by Zion_the_Lion on 17.03.2008 [14:03 ]
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LET'S PUT THIS IN PERSPECTIVE
THERE WERE MORE PEOPLE IN BIRMINGHAM ATTENDING THE ST PATRICKS DAY PARADE
LOL
THE HEADLINE NEXT TOT HE PHOTO EVEN QUOTES 'THE PATHETIC ATTEMPT AT A RALLY'
LOL
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by _merk_ on 17.03.2008 [14:57 ]
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The things that make you shout with happiness prove that you're blind and stupid. I myself don't believe that these protests are effective, but at least I know that the vast majority of people on this earth stay home and quietly hate those of your ilk ... every hour, every day. And when the economy has collapsed and they've got nothing else to lose, that hatred will turn into action. And then you'll exchange that lion's costume for that of a dog and hide and whimper in a dark corner somewhere.
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by end_of_the_age_of_oil on 17.03.2008 [15:15 ]
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the british and US government think they would escape from killing their own through 911 and 7/7 attack and then millions of Iraqis and Afghans. Stay In Iraq and Afghanistan and they will burry you under the desert sand . All over the net there are hundreds of thousands of IED attack video , sniping the pigs video , rocket attack , smoking pigs are every where in Iraq and afghanistan , now suddenly they pretend they were wrong , no man spread your fielthy democracy and stay in iraq and afghanistan, iraqis dont want you to go because they will grill you and feed their hungry dogs muthrfukr stay dont go .
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by CANUKISTAN_VIEW on 17.03.2008 [17:17 ]
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And that blinds you to see the proper context and developments.
I could say if Syria people were to be so great and united WHY THEY TORTURE IN SECRET A CANADIAN ENGINEER ON BEHALF OF THE CIA? Search it is all over the internet as he is suing the Canadian and USA government! Are all Syrian stupid? NO - DEFINITELY NOT - AND I WILL NEVER SAID THAT! BECAUSE IT IS THE CORRUPTED ELITE THAT GOVERNS AROUND THE WORLD! And people still are trying to figure this out and find the way to their freedom.
Some are more avant guard LIKE LATINOS IN SOUTH AMERICA; others have a longer way to go. Look at the tragedy of Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq, the Saudis how could these people be so divided so unfocussed for their common enemy?
Britain is no exception and their rulers are historically one the most criminals to these days. Brits people either escape to the colonies or have to go to endless imperial wars for their greedy rulers. That's their tragedy and that's exactly why I SUPPORT BRITS PEACE MOVEMENT OR ANY PROTEST OR ANY DECLARATION that goes into the right direction.
THE BIGGEST HOPE THAT I HAVE IS IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE DOLLAR, THE USA EMPIRE AND THE WESTERN FINANCIAL SCAMS THAT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY EUROPEAN RULERS! This will help the process and these grass root movements are a good start.
THE ELITE AND MONARCHS KNOW THEY ARE DEEPLY F*CKED BUT MOST PEOPLE STILL DO NOT GET IT! The wars are just a way to protect their collapsing power nationally and internationally. When the elite finally lose their financial and banking power their political clout will be gone! IT WILL BE ANOTHER DAY FOR THE HUMANITY!
Just today two billionaire bankers are no longer billionaires. Cayne and Lewis major shareholders of Bear Sterns got about $2 for shares that were traded at $158.39 just last April! From over one billion each now they got $12 and $22 MILLIONS RESPECTIVELY! Not even two pennies for a dollar invested! J.P. MORGAN bought their bank for $240 millions when the bank real estate asset alone is over $1.3 billions! THIS IS THE MERCILESS FIGHT AT THE VERY TOP - money is changing hand and at the end all paper money will be busted as they are FIAT CURRENCIES! Get hard assets, farm land, gold, silver in any form except 'on paper". DO NOT TRUST YOUR BANKER - KEEP MINIMUM DEPOSITS -
AND THIS CRISIS IS NOT EVEN THE BEGINNING FOR THE DERIVATIVE IMPLOSION that will be 50 TIMES BIGGER THAT REAL ESTATE SCAMS!!
SO KEEP LEARNING FOLKS, KEEP OPEN MIND AND YOUR PERSONAL OPTIONS, UNDERSTAND WHAT IS UNFOLDING IS VERY SERIOUS. This crisis WILL BE SIMILAR TO THE 1450 IN MEDIEVAL EUROPE! PREPARE YOURSELVES FIRST TO SURVIVE AND SECOND TO HELP THE HUMAN CAUSE AND FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT!
DO NOT FIGHT FOR PETTY STUFF OR WASTE ENERGY OR GET TRAPPED IN VERBAL ATTACKS.
I AM NOT CLAIMING TO SAVE USA OR CANADA OR ANY THING LIKE THAT. I AM GLAD THE FINANCIAL SCAM IS GETTING BUSTED AND THE RICH WILL BE BUSTED AS WELL AS THE LITTLE GUY. I AM TALKING FOR SAVING HUMANITY - WOMEN AND CHILDREN THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THESE INTERNATIONAL BANKERS AND DESPOT RULERS!
IF YOU WANT TO FIGHT AND HAVE SUPERIOR TESTOSTERONE LEVEL BE MY GUESS; GO AND FIGHT AND KILL YOURSELF AND OTHERS AS YOU WILL FIND ANOTHER NUT AROUND THE CORNER.
MY THINKING GOES TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE; sorry if I am in the wrong page folks!
CHEERS FROM CANADA - PEACE PEACE
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by stоpwar on 17.03.2008 [18:29 ]
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You didn't QUITE get the message right. The rally was pathetic because there was no rallying. After a march round the focal points of London that stirred marchers and onlookers alike, the movement deserved MUCH, MUCH BETTER... and that is a matter of organisation.
The Samba band were really great - and so were most of the protestors - just look at the pictures. Tony Benn is a fantastic person and I'm a great admirer... but by now it really shouldn't all be left to an 82 year old (very soon to be 83) and love-hate figure George Galloway to carry the torch.
It shows how much the media are being taken in, and how much that you are being taken in by the media, that you try to make comparisons with St. Patricks Day in Birmingham.
Take a look at the map of the march route...
www.iraq-war.ru/article/159174
demonstrators took up the whole of the circular part, so that as the last people were going past Big Ben one way, the start of the march was entering Parliament Square from the other.
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by ohm on 17.03.2008 [19:16 ]
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Very Festive looking, One big celebration....( Yaaawn ). All I can say, is this. STILL HERE
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by stоpwar on 17.03.2008 [19:46 ]
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and I still think demonstrations are important - the critical flaw of the STW thinking is to make them their MAIN strategy.
At least CND support Greenpeace, Trident Ploughshares, etc. and the use of NVDA.
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by stоpwar on 17.03.2008 [19:57 ]
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Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992 (c. 52)
Part V Industrial action
241.
Intimidation or annoyance by violence or otherwise.
— (1) A person commits an offence who, with a view to compelling another person to abstain from doing or to do any act which that person has a legal right to do or abstain from doing, wrongfully and without legal authority—
(a) uses violence to or intimidates that person or his wife or children, or injures his property,
(b) persistently follows that person about from place to place,
(c) hides any tools, clothes or other property owned or used by that person, or deprives him of or hinders him in the use thereof,
(d) watches or besets the house or other place where that person resides, works, carries on business or happens to be, or the approach to any such house or place, or
(e) follows that person with two or more other persons in a disorderly manner in or through any street or road.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale, or both.
(3) A constable may arrest without warrant anyone he reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this section.
www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?ActiveTextDocId=2357720
for another example of the use of this legislation, see:
www2.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/03/394112.html
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by IraqiResistance on 17.03.2008 [19:58 ]
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They could do with some passion and righteous anger. Dont they realize that Iraqis are fighting and dying?
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by torcyan on 17.03.2008 [20:27 ]
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yer. Still a waste of time.Less and less coverage with no change to anything.
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by stоpwar on 17.03.2008 [21:14 ]
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but the stating of a democratic right. While we are still able to march fairly freely like this, the hammer hasn't come down.
Who knows... otherwise it may have come down already.
I agree it no longer has much to do with the Iraqi people; much more about preserving a semblance of democracy.
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by stоpwar on 18.03.2008 [06:22 ]
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is that it gives those who are not bonded to the Internet a chance to get some real news! In the UK there are still one-third not hooked up to the Internet at all, and many others still regard Internet news with suspicion.
For such people, the annual coach ride to the London demonstration will probably be their only opportunity to get news about Iraq, Afghanistan, Zionist lies, etc. in a form that they will be prepared to accept as authoritative. These good people are significant because they then take that news back to their own communities, and the fact that the speeches at Parliament Square were inaudible is completely inexcusable.
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by LittleHelper on 18.03.2008 [06:34 ]
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@Zion_the_Lion:
How strange, if a peaceful anti-war protest makes you laugh.
Would you prefer being shot in the head ?
No, problem, you and your tribe will get exactly
what you're asking for (and what you deserve, IMHO):
ISRAEL WILL DIE !
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by paul pawlowski on 18.03.2008 [16:52 ]
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Suicide bomber David may blow
up bombs in Beijing
Suicide David blow up car bomb at the Olympic Games
- that is coming unless...
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