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Whitehall Peace Rally report

rikki blue | 22.09.2001 16:04

Eye witness report just back from huge CND rally this afternoon.

A very good natured crowd of more than 4000 assembled this afternoon opposite Downing Street. CDN had produced 1000 A4 posters "Stand shoulder to shoulder for peace & justice. No more violence" and were overwhelmed by the turn out. The usual police 'crowd pen' and bolshy attitude to anyone trying to stand outside it, but otherwise low key and fairly good natured presence. Police photographers were busy getting everyone on film. Most of the crowd were wearing black.

People shared their posters near 3p.m. so that everyone could sign the backs of them, then they were collected by CND officials and delivered to Downing Street by the Chair of CND, along with Bruce Kent, Tony Benn, and some children apparently borrowed from the crowd.

There was a lot of press there this afternoon, so I'm hoping that at last some alternative voice will get at least a tiny bit of hearing on the corporate media tonight and in tomorrow's papers.

There is a huge rally called to take place in Hyde Park on the 13th October.

rikki blue

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Build the paper, sell the party

22.09.2001 22:59

I was pleased by the turnout, and that most people respected the call not to shout slogans or bring placards. It was annoying, however, to see so many people brandishing trot papers. Holding up copies of the Socialist Worker went right against the spirit of the vigil. It was meant to be a symbolic action focussed on the issue, not a recruitment ground. As there were no banners around, it gave the impression that the SWP were behind the event, especially when you came across their prominently placed stall.

Come on people, can't you let it rest for once? Hopefully I can't have been the only person pissed off by the constant flow of SWP members trying to flog their paper and/or give me a flyer for the Globalise Resistance conference. Should point out that it wasn't just the SWP; copies of all kinds of Leninist papers were being touted - funnily enough, each of them containing the real truth behind the terrorist attacks according to their sellers...

Nunya