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Massive anti-war demo(pics)

GUIDO | 28.09.2002 20:37

Opposition to a war on Iraq takes to the streets. (article 1)

Massive anti-war demo(pics)
Massive anti-war demo(pics)

Massive anti-war demo(pics)
Massive anti-war demo(pics)

Massive anti-war demo(pics)
Massive anti-war demo(pics)

Massive anti-war demo(pics)
Massive anti-war demo(pics)

Massive anti-war demo(pics)
Massive anti-war demo(pics)


Organisers say 400,000. Cops say 150,000. Certainly the biggest antiwar demo in London for a long time.

GUIDO

Comments

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Antisemitism????

30.09.2002 09:45

If never seen so much Antisemitism on one demonstration since the nazi-regime. I'm shocked about what happened on this demonstration. I'm jewish, but I'm surely NOT a facist. But there where a lot of posters with swastikas compared with the jewish - davids- star. Why does nobody do anything against this kind of antisemitism? It is the same as the israeli government does to palestines...FIGHT ANTISEMITISM!!! FIGHT IMPERIALISM !!! FIGHT CAPITALISM!!!

A

Antisemitism?

30.09.2002 10:58

The posters I saw said: "Swaztika = Davids Star". I don't think that it was intended as an attack on all jews.

It seems to me that it was a comment on the israeli state oppressing the Palestinians. That is, an israeli state using probaganda and methods against the palestinians very much like the ones used by the nazis against the jews, such as the wish for a pure jewish/german state, or, the idea that they had a religious/moral right to use any means nessesary to do it.

The use of the Davids star (I think) is not as a symbol of all jews, but as a symbol of the ultrareligious and racist sect zionism that allows (and supports) the beastly behavior of Ariel Sharon.

Thus it's not an antisemite message but a comment on the situation in the middleeast. And remember: Palestinians are also semites.

Rick

Zionisme = Fascism

30.09.2002 11:44

Zionisme = Fascism
Zionisme = Fascism

The David-star is indeed a religious symbol of the Judaic faith, however, the Zionist ideology has hijacked that very same symbol.

When posters or banners show a David-star along swastikas this should not be considered as antisemitism but as a way to compare Zionism with the Nazi-ideology.

Seeing one's religious symbol being misused can be sickening. Blame the Zionists, not those protesting their terror.

Savant


 http://netureikarta.org/mainintro.htm

Savant
mail e-mail: nurilm@pandora.be
- Homepage: http://netureikarta.org/mainintro.htm

Antisemitism

01.10.2002 07:47

Just felt that I had to comment on the Star of David / Swastika imagery.

Surely if a Jewish person attending the demonstration found it offensive, then that's enough reason not to do it, or perpetuate it on your website? As a pacifist who attended and hugely enjoyed the massive and life affirming demonstration on Saturday, I cannot deny that I felt uncomfortable at the fact that while I was attending a peace march it seemed that others simply wanted to start a different war.

It doesn't take a genius to work out that there were many more Muslims than Jews attending on Saturday. And if the Israel / Palestine issue is key then we must solve the issue through dialog. So why are we risking driving the Jewish community away from the Peace movement?

Hugh

Anti-zionism not anti-semitism

01.10.2002 13:33

The protesters weren't attacking Judaism, they were attacking the Zionist state of Israel, whose actions have been disowned by many true, peace-loving, Jews. Considering the state was set up after the atrocities of Nazi Germany were discovered, its hardly gratifying to see Sharon propigate a regime of terror, humiliation and destruction against the Palestinian people.

VICTORY TO THE INTIFADA!

Marxist_Mike

Re: Anti-zionism not anti-semitism

02.10.2002 15:54

As a non-Zionist Jew who was there on Saturday I'd agree with Mike that anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism - even the Chief Rabbi has made this point.

But...There is a big difference between having a blue Star of David between two blue lines (the Israeli flag) and equating it to the Swastika, and on the other hand, just linking the Star of David (the widely used symbol for Judaism) and the Swastika like Savant has done.

The former is a political point (clearly open to deabte), but the latter is just racist. I can imagine that some peoples response to someone doing a similar thing to a Muslim crescent when calling for peace in Kashmir, or respect for womens rights in Saudi Arabia would be quite different.

Ben S

Ben S
mail e-mail: ben@LivStudentCND.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.LivStudentCND.org.uk

Swastika and Star of David

08.10.2002 19:16

I agree with Ben's comments. I too, am Jewish and am also not supportive of the Israeli oppression of Palestinian people. However, i feel that not enough distinction is made between Israel and Jews in criticism - particularly within this image. As Ben points out, the Israeli flag is the same star between two blue stripes on a white background and using a star of david on its own with a swastika in an image is simply provocative and insensitive, considering the history of the image.

While it may not be designed to attack all Jews, the flag does nontheless create a very provocative and non-peaceful image.

Ing_soc

The Swastika was a religous symbol too!

09.10.2002 18:38

The swastika was a religous symbol too before the Nazis hijacked it.

Harliquin

'nuff respect

12.10.2002 14:42

I was active in the London demonstration. Let us be very clear about this: the swastika/star of david comparison was a desecration of a people's religious symbol.

In that sense it was disrespectful and a part of the violence of the system creeping into a demonstration that was supposed to be about peace.

Disresepct, pure and simple.

Would we have done the same with Islamic or Christian symbols?

Was it really necessary?

Logan
(who's not Jewish...innit)

Logan

swastika - still a religious symbol

13.10.2002 08:09

The swastika is still a religious symbol in India. You will see the fronts of houses, and food dishes decorated with it.

It was ours before the nazis hijacked it, yet you dont see us crying when the anti-nazi groups attack the symbol and equate it with racism. We understand that they are not attacking us or our religious sybolism but rather the nazis. Similarly Jews should understand that today the star of david represents oppression and injustice and an attack on it should not be seen as an attack on the Jewish people or religion.

Many Jews like the ultra orthodox Neturi Karta understand and accept this and infact themselves use the symbol in this way (their logo seems to be a star of david with a red bar across it to indicate NO TO ZIONISM).

indi

Antisemitism

17.10.2002 15:19

Agree with A and Ben about some muslims and palestinians "confusing" mix of the David star and the swastika, it´s really disgusting! It reveals anti-semite features among some palestinian disguised as anti-zionist rhetoric.

Am amazed to see all these comments about zionism. For Christ sake, as long as you are using such this term U are not only legitimating fanatical muslims but also far right groups like the Ku Klux Klan.

It is important to condemn the agression of the Israeli state, but please stay sensibel and reject confusing mixes of the swastika and the David star and the zionist terms.

The Israeli conflict is mainly about imperialism, not religion!

Groovy Snowy