March 15th Stop the War March in London.

Guido | 17.03.2008 00:07 | Palestine | Terror War | London

Can I be the first to congratulate the Stop the War Coalition (STWC) for its consistency. Arriving in Trafalgar Square for the rally we are treated to some truly insomnia curing speeches from the usual speakers who have absolutely nothing new to say. Same old faces, same old rhetoric. This time however they get heckled by a small but load group at the front of the rally. To be honest I am surprised this has not happened before now. Yet again we have another A to B march where everyone is expected to obey the Police and do nothing to rock the boat. Unsurprisingly there is absolutely zero coverage of the event on the local/national news or the papers the following day. Perhaps they are trying to get heir own episode of ‘Unreported World’? Worse still the STWC have previously been turning a deliberate blind eye to the blatant harassment of certain sections of their marches by the Police in general, the FIT team in particular. Their stewards always seem to side with the cops and were even seen trying to forcibly end a sit down by students in Parliament Square at a demo last year. Galloway suggests during his speech that the STWC are going to start breaking the law soon…

Oh really? Now remember this: “I never thought I would say this but we have to take whatever steps necessary to stop this war. If that means taking direct action like blocking the roads and railways then so be it!” Encouraging words from Tony Benn. Just one problem. He said that in Hyde Park over five years ago and fuck all has happened since then.

The march itself has its moments. The samba band liven up one section of it and further the totally awesome Kingblues band have brought their own sound system and are playing a roving gig for the entire route of the march. Fitwatch play cat & mouse with their namesakes and the autonomist block steadfastly refuse to go where they are told.

Another particularly loud and angry section are a contingent of Somali refugees who are totally pissed off about the occupation of their country by US backed Ethiopian troops which no one seems to care about.

Don’t get wrong. Not everyone is up for taking direct action over issues like genocide in Iraq/Palestine/Somalia/Afghanistan ect. Some folks want to take part in a lawful demo which is fine, and their choice. But if the STWC want the coverage they crave and to make even the smallest impact then they have to start being a bit more creative than a strategy of cooperation with the Police and government. These marches got boring a long time ago and now the numbers are visibly dwindling.

Guido
e-mail: guidoreports@riseup.net

Additions

They don't support people resisting the war -not even members of their own party

17.03.2008 06:44

Yeah well, it's not just a case of the SWP/ StWC not organising NVDA against the war...they don't support people who are before the courts, in jail or who are organising further resistance.

I set off for the march to increase awareness of the upcoming Raytheon 9 trial in Belfast in May

http://www.raytheon9.org/ . This is a significant resistance trial of 9 activists who nonviolently disabled the mainframe computer at Raytheon in Derry during the bombing of Lebanon (with Raytheon equipment) in the summer of 06. The SWP/StWC are well placed ot make this trial very widely known and encpourage support fo the defendants. They have chosen not to

My pathetic cardboard sign and a few goes at street speaking to the assembling crowds was the only mention of this trial at the rally on Saturday

When an SWP member took a break form selling the paper to ask me how are those people doing?
I responded "You tell me, three of them are your party members looking at years in jail. Why aren't they mentioned at this rally etc etc?"

A farly heated debate ensued.
Concluding with my reponse "For all if it's rrrrrrrrrrrevolutionary rhetoric, your party are a bunch of moderates who rather provide a platform for Labor Party politicians than support anti-war resisters before the courts. You have hung out your own people to dry etc."

This was my experience in Ireland as we went through 3 trials for $2 1/2 million crtiminal damaage to a U.S. war plane being refueled at Shannon

http://www.peaceontrial.com/

The SWP primarily see the anti-war movement/ these biannual rallies as marketing/brand profile lifting opportunities for their party, newspaper selling and recruitment. They are the first line of policing of the anti-war movement. Whether they have been infiltrated (as were similar groups in the '60's) or whether such a strategy of groundhog day rallies, cattle drives through empty streets, centralisation and dissipation just dovetails into their short term aims - it probably makes little difference.

A good anarcho critique of the SWP, authoritarian and moderate left screwing the anti-war movement in Ireland can be found on the following link.....

http://indymedia.ie/routeirish

Ciaorn
Homepage: http://www.raytheon9.org

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Ignored for the fifth year running.

17.03.2008 08:59

Anybody else get the feeling that a nice walk in the middle of the road through central London to surround an empty legislature building is a brilliant middle class bonding experience so participants can feel good about themselves, but is now proven as entirely ineffective in changing anything?

Mike Dobson

Easy to blame

17.03.2008 22:51

The only thing more consistent about the marches are the moaners. They never do anything but bitch and moan about those who have got off their arses to actually do something.

And shouldn't the momentum for something more radical come from the people? What are we, sheep waiting for our next orders from the STWC...what a condescending load of crap.

MC
mail e-mail: mcx_77@yahoo.co.uk

new times

17.03.2008 23:41

>> And shouldn't the momentum for something more radical come from the people?

apparently it is

http://ianbone.wordpress.com/2008/03/13/fuck-the-war-coalition/

starter

Response to MC "Easy to Blame"

18.03.2008 05:51

Not sure if you (moaning) are replying to my comment there..but just in case.

I was part of the most disruptive act taken by civilians to the 03 U.S. mobilisation for war (which is a bit like winning the Eurovision, as there was fuck all competition from a very timid movement even at its Feb 15th. peak!)

Feb 15th 02, I watched the 2 mill march in London with my co-defendant from my cell in Limerick prison, Ireland. Support for us and our action was blacklisted by the IAWM/SWP platform in Dublin that day....no mention at all of NVD actions that removed 4 private U.S. corporations transporting troops through Shannon Airport/Ireland to the war in Iraq.

It was instructive that the anti-nuclear speaker on the platform last Saturday mentioned Kissinger and other war criminals as "repentants" (what they had in common is they are no longer in power and have plenty of time to fine tune their legacy).....but not the nonviolent Trident Ploughshares direct action campaign at Faslane. This is NVDA has been the only thing that has kept the anti-nuke issue on the radar in Britain. It is instructive that CND would not allow leaflet promoting the next TP blockade at Aldermaston on the CND info table at last Saturday's rallies.

My point is that rather than Galloway and Benn flirting, posturing, teasing about NVDA as a response to the war....support the nonviolent resistance that is occuring (Raytheon 9, Trident ploughshares, my 2 CW community members who are being sentenced to day for Dsei resistance etc etc). It is SWP/StWC policy to censor and marginalise nonviolent resistance to this war!

Ciaron
mail e-mail: ploughshares/catholic worker
Homepage: http://www.peaceontrial.com

Whose side are they on? Bush? Blair? The Police?

30.03.2008 21:05

Those scumbags (was it Class War?) who were shouting abuse at the front of the rally clearly had a state agenda. They looked more like the BNP than anyone else. I also noticed that the Police photographers mysteriously left before all the shouting started. How convenient for the abuse merchants? What better way to undermine that Stop The War Coalition than from within? The marches don't have to result it broken windows and full scale riots to be effective. The bill for Policing alone must cost millions and the mobilisations are a constant thorn in the side of the government. A dozen paid up agent provocateurs won't change that.

Its obvious.

RE. Whose side are they on? Bush? Blair? The Police?

01.04.2008 14:58

Firstly your claim that the cops left before the heckling started is complete bollocks. I was there until half way through the speeches and the FIT were still present and all over CW and fitwatch.

Secondly your claim about the marches being a thorn in the side of the govenment and a huge expense is completely absurd. An event that attracts a few thousand people and zero publicity does not threaten anyone. The Policing bill for a twice annual STW march is far less than that for keeping the army in Iraq or Aghanistan for a single day. Or indeed that which is spent on Policing any large city centre or sporting event every weekend.

Finally if you are going to write unconvincing smears about people you politically disagree with please attach them to some elses reports.

Guido
mail e-mail: guidoreports@riseup.net