The day war against Iraq officially began (Tursday 20th March) York witnessed spontaneous civil disobedience on a massive scale.

At 11am, around two hundred school students left classes and met York council workers who walked out in protest. After a short rally, two small marches broke off around York. Sit-downs were held on two of York's major bridges, where police dragged people from the road.

Shortly after, around a hundred school students occupied a major roundabout, bringing one of the main routes into York to a standstill. At this point, police arrested three University students for "unlawfully obstructing the highway". All three were later released with a caution.

Those arrested spoke at a 6 o'clock rally of one thousand people at St. Sampson's Square. One said "We were arrested today for a peaceful protest. They said our actions were criminal. But our actions pale into insignificance when compared the the crimes being perpetrated against the Iraqi people in our names."

After a people's parliament, the crowd marched and occupied two of York's three road bridges for around thirty minuutes each.

The next day (Friday 20th March), students tried to walk out again but were barricaded inside many schools. Those that managed to harrassed York's pro-war MP Hugh Bayley on two different occaisions.

People gathered at 6pm again. Around two hundred people marched around town, blocking two roads, a bridge and barricading the Railway Station for some time.

A meeting is being held to plan non-violent civil disobedient activities in the coming days.

www.yorksaw.org.uk
www.yorkagainstthewar.org.uk