STOP THE WAR COALITION
07951 235 915
PO Box 3739, London E5 8EJ

NEWS RELEASE: Monday 8 October 2001

* Downing Street anti-war protest draws thousands

Two thousand protesters marched on Downing Street from Trafalgar Square tonight to register their opposition to military action in Afghanistan.

They heard a variety of speakers call for an immediate halt to the bombing, including former MP Tony Benn, CND's Bruce Kent, writer Mike Marqusee and lawyer Nick Wrack speaking for the Socialist Alliance.

Built entirely by word of mouth and emails within 24 hours, the size of the gathering demonstrated the depth of anti-war feeling in the country. Protests also took place in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Birmingham, Bridgend, Cambridge, Cardiff, Sheffield, Luton, Manchester and other cities.

"People are disgusted by the immoral, unlawful, unjust and counter-productive military action on the people of Afghanistan," said Mike Marqusee of the Stop The War coalition. "We expect many more to turn up for the big demonstration this Saturday."

CND/Stop The War demonstration: Assemble 12 noon, Saturday 13 October, Hyde Park

For more information call Lindsey German 0207 538 3308; 0208 986
1375; 07810 540584

STOP THE WAR COALITION
07951 235 915
PO Box 3739, London E5 8EJ

NEWS RELEASE: Sunday 7 October 2001


* Attacks on Afghanistan will outrage the people of the world
* Stop the War Coalition calls on all those opposed to the US-UK military action against Afghanistan to protest in Trafalgar Square, central London, tomorrow (Monday) 6pm

"There is no justification whatsoever for tonight's military assault on Kabul, Kandahar and possibly other targets inside Afghanistan," said a Stop the War Coalition spokesperson.

"These attacks are acts of war wholly outside all accepted legal, democratic and civilised norms.

"They will outrage people of all nationalities across the world.

"This military action in no way assists the apprehension of the perpetrators of the atrocities of September 11. It will not deter terrorism, nor will it make anyone, anywhere safer. On the contrary, it threatens to precipitate only more violence and more suffering for guiltless people, not least the guiltless people of Afghanistan
already afflicted by starvation and an escalating refugee crisis.

"Bush and Blair are trying to prepare us for a long, drawn-out war in and around Afghanistan. The Stop the War Coalition intends to mobilise the largest possible protest against this immoral and wholly destructive course - and bring it to a speedy end."

The Stop the War Coalition is asking all those opposed to the US-UK military action to protest tomorrow (Monday) evening, from 6pm, in Trafalgar Square.

It will also be working flat out to ensure the largest possible turn-out for the anti-war demonstration called by CND for Saturday 13th October.

The Stop the War Coalition was formed in London out of a meeting of more than 2000 people held at Friends House a fortnight ago. Sponsors include Harold Pinter, MPs George Galloway, Tam Dalyell, Jeremy Corbyn, and Alan Simpson, writer George Monbiot, peace activists Hugh Stephens and Jim Addington, Suresh Grover; chair of the National Civil Rights Movement, Asad Rehman from the Newham Monitoring Project, Andrew Murray from ASLEF, Dave Nellist, writer Mike Marqusee, Liz Davies from the Socialist Alliance, Hilary Wainwright from Red Pepper, Chris Nineham from Globalise Resistance, broadcaster John Pilger, novelist and screenwriter Ronan Bennett, lawyer Soraya Lawrence, broadcaster Mark Thomas, and writer and comedian Mark Steel. Stop the war groups have affiliated in South London, Tower Hamlets, Portsmouth, Hackney, Sheffield, Islington, Camden and Haringey.

For more information call Lindsey German 0207 538 3308; 0208 986 1375; 07810 540584