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Stop the traffic in Manchester when war breaks out

Stop the War | 04.03.2003 11:09

The Blockade closes the road up opens the way.
“If you go to one demonstration and then go home, that’s something, but the people in power can live with that. What they can’t live with is sustained pressure that keeps building, organisations that keep doing things, people that keep learning lessons from the last time and doing it better the next time. Noam Chomsky

Stop the traffic!
Make sure it’s not business as usual when war breaks out

On the day after war breaks out people will gather at 5pm at Piccadilly Gardens. This is a call for people to bring Manchester to a halt during rush hour the following morning by blockading their local road junctions. By disrupting the working of the city we are stopping business from carrying on as usual while the government wages a war the people don’t want. Whether protesting for peace, for democracy, against the over use of oil, for Palestine or for common sense, join the blockade in your local area.

How to blockade your street
Baricading or blockading a road can be as simple or as complicated as you want. From a sit down protest to using chains and bike locks - there are numerous options. If you are in band bring your instruments, if you just want to make a noise bring pots and pans to bang, if you’ve been doing a vigil then move it into the road.
For an accessible, well written, introduction to blockading check out Delia’s Basic Blockading. Available at: www.schnews.org.uk/diyguide (this site also offers other advice on taking direct action).

Join with friends and neighbours or contact your local Stop the War group and organise a blockade in your area. Go to www.manchesterstopthewar.org to find your nearest group.
It only takes a few roads to be gridlocked to shut the city down and send a clear message that any war is not in our name.

Ring 07745 980700 for more information on planned blockades near you or to let others know about your event.

Training event:
Introduction to non-violent direct action
Bridge 5 Mill, 22a Beswick Street, Ancoats
(see www.bridge-5.org for directions)
Sunday 9th March, 1.30pm.
An introduction to taking effective direct action - come and learn more about the types of action that can be taken against the war.

Legal information
For dealing with the law contact the Activist Legal Project on 01865 243772 or see Delia’s Guide to Blockading.

Endorsed by Greater Manchester
Stop the War Coalition

If war starts, ‘Stop the City, Stop the War’ and other civil disobedience events have been called in Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Hereford, Leicester, London, Oxford, Sheffield. (from www.schnews.co.uk/stopwar/whenwarstarts.htm)

Stop the War
- Homepage: http://www.schnews.org.uk/diyguide