Around 4,000-5,000 people protested in Brighton today
against the 'war on terrorism', New Labour's plans for
privatising public services such as health and education,
and against Globalisation and Capitalism.

The turnout was less than was initially planned, but was
still quite large considering the events of Sept. 11 and
fear of Police repression, and the near torrential wind
and rain that faced the city at the time.

The crowd was comprised of a very eclectic mix of Socialists
and Anarchists, Greens, Animal Rights activists, Anti-Racism
groups, Anti-War groups, Unions members, and 'ordinary'
families with their children.

Groups began to gather at 'The Level' park before 12 noon
for speeches and general getting-into-groups and organising.

A notice was left by Sussex Police under "Section 12 -
Public Order Act 1996" which stated due to "the likelihood
of 'public disorder'" the route had been changed and
protesters are instructed not to deviate from the route
or risk arrest.

Around 1:45pm when everyone was preparing to walk for the
march, several comrades were brutally arrested in the
park and frog marched out by a large group of policemen
in riot gear. This eyewitness saw one Womble being arrested-
much to the dismay of the crowd, who cheered the Womble and
shouted various insults at the Police.

The march took off a little after 2:00pm from the park in
the pouring rain.

The group marched from the park via the new designated route
(sometimes quite narrow) towards the Labour Party conference
by the seashore. The crowd was quite livey and chanted
various Anti-War, Anti-Bush, Anti-Blair, and Anti-Privitisation songs and chants and called for spending on the 'welfare state' as opposed to arms and war.

The response from the Public was mostly positive, with various people waving and yelling their support from their apartment-block windows.

The Police presence was considerable and were filming protesters every hundred yards or so.

The protest culminated directly in front of the Labour Party conference at around 3:15pm, where protesters remained for an hour or so, before turning around for a brief march back along the original route.

The atmosphere at this point was at its most jovial as the
entire street was filled with protesters and banners and
people danced (some naked) to the beat of loud African drums.

The March ended shortly afterwards.