NOT IN OUR NAME - ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS SET UP CITY CENTRE PEACE CAMP
20/3/03 Immediately following the declaration of war against Iraq at 3am today, members of the Lancaster and District Coalition Against the War set up a peace camp in Lancaster's Market Square. More people are coming into town to join them and to voice their opposition to the unnecessary murder of innocent civilians for the profit of US oil companies.
At 5.30am protesters moved some of the fencing currently in the square where Jacksons the builders are doing paving work. Within minutes the police arrived, and then more police, and threatened to arrest them for theft of fencing ties! However with some intelligent conflict resolution work an agreement was reached with the protesters having permission to pitch a yurt on their current site. This cut little ice with the JCB driver from Jacksons who turned up shortly after wanting to drive his machine through. Fortunately the Health and Safety Officer from Jacksons was summoned who agreed that the site was currently safe to be left, and called off work.
Protesters are calling for support from all those who are opposed to the war, to come to Market Square and join the protest. 'People cannot go to work to in Bhagdad today - they have to try to work out how to protect their families, children, sick and elderly, who cannot run or hide. Bombing and sanctions against Iraq have been ongoing for 10 years now, since the US lost control of the corrupt dictator they raised and armed to serve their interests there. This murder is being done in our name and we are the only people who can put a stop to it. This terrible crime is being carried out to help the US shore up its rotten economy by stealing resources from weaker states. Basically so that US teenagers can continue to drive to McDonalds in giant gas-guzzling SUVs on petrol at less than $1 a gallon.'

MP Geraldine 'I do not believe that Iraq currently poses a direct military threat to the West' Smith voted in support of the war. Lancaster MP Hilton Dawson carried out the wishes of those who elected him and opposed war.

Again today children walked out of Lancaster schools to protest against the war, carrying banners reading: 'Over half the Iraqi population is under 15'.