After discussions late this afternoon The Metropolitan Police and the Stop the War Coalition have agreed the march route for Thursday that allows the march over Westminster Bridge, past Parliament and along Whitehall to Trafalgar Square, as expected after speculation in the press over the weekend (see also corporate media coverage).
Meanwhile last minute preparations are underway for the multitude of demonstrations and actions planned against Bush. Not just restricted to anti-war issues, the protests also deal with issues from GM to Climate Change to Globalisation (see reasons to protest). Wednesday 19th has been called as a day for civil disobedience and direct action. In London, amidst the massive security operation, wednesday will see people taking to the streets with events and actions running throughout the day including an alternative state procession, a critical mass, a street party, school walkouts, the Resist Bush Tea Party mass direct action and many more smaller actions (see London Listing + ResistBush.org). On Tuesday, the day Bush arrives, the Burning Planet climate protest will march via the ExxonMobil ("Esso") offices in Aldwych, through central London to the US Embassy.
More reports on Monday, Sunday and Saturdays actions follow.
Monday 17th
Protest and Orange Overalls action @ Blairs visit to the CBI in B'ham
Police Film People Returning from European Social Forum
Campaign To Section Bush
Campaigner Lindis Percy in 2hr Protest on top of the Gates of Buckingham Palace
Police intimidates samba band member in London
Parliament / Whitehall March Route Given Permission
100,000 Anti Bush Petition Handed into Downing Street
Updated Bush Visit Schedule
Police numbers for London Trebled to 14,000
Sunday 16th
Naked NO GM AMBUSH Outside Parliament
Corporate Media Poll - "what britons really think about bush"
Saturday 15th
Sheffield Stop Bush Demonstration - reports + pics [1] [2] [3] ndon Trebled to 14,000
Sunday 16th
Naked NO GM AMBUSH Outside Parliament
Corporate Media Poll - "what britons really think about bush"
Comments
Hide the following 13 comments
Stop the War Coalition - Friend or Foe?
17.11.2003 11:53
Despite the record numbers of people who took to the streets to protest the war, both before and after the fact, I know of not one single call to action organised or proposed by them.
Surely the very least that should have happened was a call to boycott American & Israeli goods, services and events?
But.....
No call to boycott
No suggestions for direct action.
No access for ordinary citizens to speak (I know - I applied to them repeatedly & was ignored)
No speakers even acknowledging the Tel Aviv puppetmasters to the whole Imperialist Enterprise.
If, as a ruling entity, you want to control all aspects of a society, not simply those that either agree with or fear you, then it is in your best interests to ensure that any dissent is controlled and ultimately given a 'safe' vent.
If all those worthy souls who turned up to demonstrate, angry and ready to take action, were anything like me, we all went home after a few of hours of platitudes from a carefully controlled list of speakers, feeling that the energy had been somewhat diffused, the solidarity rendered limp and without any clear notion of what to do next.
I can't help but wonder in whose interests their current 'negotions' for the Bush criminal's unwelcome are being made.
Pagan Celt
some clues here
17.11.2003 17:28
kurious
Stop the War Coalition is Coalition led by Socialist Workers Party
17.11.2003 20:27
The Stop the War Coalition is focused on stopping the war, bringing the troups home, and showing the lies of the Bush, Blair and other imperialists. If you want to be involved in other tactics, such as boycotts etc., this is probably not the venue to do it in. It is not the mandate of the coalition, although any individual actions, or groups of people that want to do so, just do so on their own.
The Socialist Workers Party is a real pain in the ass to the British Government, and is very well known thoroughout Britain by workers and trade unionists. It is an excellent party to belong to if you want to affect real change. You can read the paper here:
Making suggestions to the SWP, rather than to the Stop the War Coalition, is probably a better idea, but I'm sure that to have a say in activities, you need to be a member. (No different than in the states where the Democratic Party is not going to allow anyone who is not a member to advise them what to do. Join the party, and have a voice in the party.)
So, unless you have a better group to bring over two million people to the streets to protest against war, as the Coalistion did in Feb. I guess you should probably just thank the SWP for starting the coalition in the first place.
Stop War
come on
17.11.2003 20:45
With enough of causing enough chaos our message will even get through to Blair's adoring US public, that this lying shit does not represent the views of this country and in fact there is no 'coalition of the willing', of which we are supposed to be a part, just some harrassed small nations n Bush n Blair.
Bush has taken the US for a ride, we can spell it out them over the coming days. This war is for Bush and Blair's Imperialist Ambitions, we are fighting and killing vast numbers of innocent people for oil and corporate interests, the war on Iraq is in fact State Armed Robbery of the most evil savage kind. (Bush's Nazi Grandfather would be very very proud).
So come on people take to the streets, I'm sure you could pull a sickie n join the fun in London over the coming days, and what's more think of the good that could be achieved.
And in reference to the Pagan chap, why do you feel the need to speak at a large scale rally, preaching to the converted. Get a few mates together n protest in your local town centre and CONVERT SOME PEOPLE!!!! The facts are out there, it's just that it's getting through to everyone, SCREAM the message until it's heard. (You could even call yourselves the 'Whatever Town Stop the War Coalition', it's that kind of groovy (semi) organisation).
Good Luck everyone, lets make it an N18,19,20,21 to remember!!
read chomsky
Unity
17.11.2003 23:14
Remember your anti-war umbrellas.
Whether you trust/don't trust the anti-war coalition is irrelevant. They are very organised, and have done a lot to make the demo visible. But what we do within that demo is all up to us, and rather than turning up expecting to be empowered, we should be making an effort to empower the demonstration.
What is the anti-war movement but a vast collection of individuals trying to fight the forces of greed and oppression. So instead of looking for leaders, lets just kick ass. I hope to see George Bush fleeing Buckingham Palace in his helicopter ( and wouldn't it be great....just great...if someone from the Iraqi resistance was just there under his chopper, with a shoulder mounted rocket launcher....and then BAM!!!! ) No.....bad man....behave....think positive thoughts, not violent thoughts....
We....are....peaceful....not.....violent. Stop....thinking....about....blowing...up....Bush
Its difficult. He is responsible for so much evil and suffering in the world. But its not really his fault. He is like the Homer Simpson of politics. It is the people who stand behind him who we need to worry about. How do we fight them? We're not even sure who they are...
Hermes
We Hear You!
17.11.2003 23:51
"Bush has taken the US for a ride, we can spell it out them over the coming days. This war is for Bush and Blair's Imperialist Ambitions, we are fighting and killing vast numbers of innocent people for oil and corporate interests, the war on Iraq is in fact State Armed Robbery of the most evil savage kind. (Bush's Nazi Grandfather would be very very proud)."
Indeed, Bush and the "Bush Regime" are unraveling their own sordid agenda...
There are many US citizens who see through it and understand that many in the UK (and in other parts of the world) do not approve of actions in Iraq, any more than we do. Protest! Protest! Protest!
We do here, trying to effectively communicate our frustration with the US Government in as many ways as possible. Thanks to organizations like Move On, and of course Indy Media, we can see the impact of like-minded humans, despite the efforts to drown out those voices by "paid off" media puppets...
Many here in the US will be protesting with you!
Thoughtsurfer
Please, For Me, For My Dead Friends
18.11.2003 04:47
If I could be there I would be mobilizing like Judgement was coming.
Do not underestimate how important it is to show this man, and the American people, that they do not have an Ally in the great British people. The integrity of your nation is at stake, and your respect in the eyes of your European neighbours.
In memory of the greatness achieved by the RTS'ers and Tree Activists of Britain who entertained me for three years and inspired millions worldwide... and for my fallen comrades, in memory of Simon Jones, please, for me... drive that fucker out of your country...
irish bernie
Support from Australians
18.11.2003 05:04
Aussie
Riot In London
18.11.2003 13:33
Creo que tenemos que hacer que nadie olvide este dia en Londres...
Hay que hacer que pagen todo lo que estan haciendo en el mundo estos malditos cabrones
que les cueste danos economicos o de otro tipo!!
Vamos a por ell@s!!!
Cambiaremos el mundo aunque sea a pedradas!
Viva la revolucion!
ANARQUISTA
e-mail:
hioga84@hotmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.alasbarricadas.org
Direct Action
18.11.2003 13:52
Violence is not an answer -it's a reply
Can anybody speculate on the nature of the direct action we will be directing at Bush?
Understandably the police would like to know this as much as I would, but will there be mass sit downs or heftier measures of civil disobedience and where will these take place?
In Genoa I witnessed the police beating and gassing many nonviolent protestors and I saw many angry young men smashing up shops and banks and throwing stones at police in a desperate effort to harm capitalism. We need to open peoples eyes without being written off as anarchist thugs.
the sociable truth
e-mail:
sociable@alittlepoison.com
Homepage:
http://www.alittlepoison.com
Fuera Bush de cualquier parte
18.11.2003 22:52
el señor bush es el principal terrorista mundial, es un criminal, un mentiroso y su principales complices Blair la puta de Usa, Aznar el chupahuevo de Usay y sharon Fasista de mierda criminal, abajo el imperialismo, abajo el caPitalimo neoliberal, abajo el ALCA bomba que matara de hambre al pueblo latinoamericano
JF-Gus
Fuera Bush
18.11.2003 23:00
JF-Gu
THANK YOU THANK YOU
19.11.2003 06:28
Sarah- a grateful American