A Show of Strength


London 28th September 2002 saw the biggest anti-war demo to date.
The biggest anti-war demonstrations, Europe, and possibly the world has ever seen.
What made the difference? Why did so many people come? Why have the mainstream press STILL largely ignored it? I will attempt to answer some of these questions, and also try and say what will happen if the demonstrators are ignored.

First of all a brief run through of the march, which had been organised primarily by the Stop the War Coalition, and MAB, the Muslim Association of Britain, and supported by CND (not organised by, as some ignorant mainstream press seemed to think).

I myself caught the very front of the March just outside Downing Street, and in short it was loud and angry, intense righteous, and as it should be, peaceful.
A good one to watch coming up the road due to the creativity of those involved, many different plaques, the usual "STOP THE WAR" and "NOT IN MY NAME", but some other good ones, the Green Party's "It's about the OIL, stupid!" and many calling for regime change in the Whitehouse, and sanctions to be brought against Israel.
This is not the first anti-war demonstrations I have been on, and was dismayed at previous marches, by what appeared to be a take-over by Unions and Socialist Parties, this time however there was no chance of that.
Students, punks, anarchists, muslims socialists, trade unions, grandmothers, whole families in fact appeared to be out for a day in the park.
What a day!! I arrived in the park and was luckily able to get seated very near the speakers, and got to hear all the speakers, including former Labour MP Tony Ben, current Mayor of London, Ken Livingston, the Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU, as well as leading members of the Muslim community.
All were well received, and most spoke very well.
The main issues concerning the speakers did well do reflect what I took as the attitude of the March, ie
Yes Saddam Husain, is a danger, but far more pressing is the situation in Palestine, with Sharon's war arsenal being far more advanced.
People don't think for a minute that Sept 11 and Iraq have any connections, and all believe that this war in Iraq is about securing cheaper oil.
There were calls for multilateralism, and for the UN to clean up its biased image, place economic sanctions on Israel.
The daggers were really out though, for Blair's contuing and unconditional support of downright irresponsible US policy, and of course the man the whole world is starting to love hating the moronic George W Bush.
I think Tony Blair can afford to ignore this protest, but not if he is going to get re-elected.
I also think the press really needs to take a bit more notice of the people who buy their papers, and possibly the people who don't, as there was as many in London as took to the streets in Genoa last year, and if violence is the only reason the protest was given coverage. Why did the countryside alliance march receive more attention?

One thing can be certain, this movement will not go away, and it has become apparent at least to me that it is in its infancy.
I was proud to be part of that infancy this Saturday.

I say this to Tony Blair "In a "democratic" society the government Listens to the people."
Take Heed.