London Indymedia

London Bush 2003

20-11-2003 10:05 | 6 comments

Stop Bu$h - National Demonstration - Thursday 20th

We really don't like ya George. Massive demonstrations have taken place in and around Trafalgar Square in London. A 17 feet-high statue of George Bush was toppled to huge cheers from the crowd at 17:22 GMT [ Video]. Estimates of today's attendance range from AP syndicating around the world the number of 50,000 (later amended), over the Metropolitan Police's official estimate of 70,000 (later updated to 110,000) to the Stop the War Coalition ever increasing estimate of up to 300,000 (a number to which Indymedia reporters on the scene agree). Whatever the numbers, today's event looks to be the biggest weekday demonstration of recent years.

Update: Indymedia UK received over a million hits on Thursday (1,119,801 to be exact) - not bad for a website run by DIY collectives all over the UK. We would like to emphasize that Indymedia exists by non-hierarchical organization and has no other resources than the commitment of people donating their time and talent.

To kick the day off activists unfurled a banner reading "Bush Free Zone" from Admiralty Arch, see report and press release and pictures. To read up on the events as they unfolded check the Full Timeline of the events in London.

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | gallery
Reports: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
Audio: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7
Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Across The UK
Aberdeen: Demonstration against Bush.
Barnsley: another Bush statue toppling.
Sedgefield: Several bonfires were lit up as a preparation for today's demos in Sedgefield.
Sheffield: anti-Bush demo outside the Town Hall, followed by a sitdown protest at Furnival Gate roundabout.
Swindon: Bush statue toppling in Swindon.

List of messages of support
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17
See also corporate media reports
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19-11-2003 10:00 | 11 comments

Resist Bush! Day of Civil Disobedience: Wednesday 19th

Return Bush to Sender

Wednesday was billed as a day of civil disobedience and direct action throughout the country. In London, amidst the massive security operation, people took to the streets with events and actions. The protests started early in the morning with the delivery of a Tarte au Citron to the Queen, courtesy of the Biotic Baking Brigade. Then actions kicked off throughout the day with a Critical Mass, an Alternative State Procession, Street Parties, a Women's Peace Picnic and other actions Across The UK - culminating in 2000 protesters dancing in front of Buckingham Palace on a Resist Bush Tea Party. Police proved to be still overreacting when policing during a head of state visit: When Jiang Zemin was around they turned placards of protesters away - with Bush they confiscated a small sound system singing anti-Bush songs.

Multimedia

Photos: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22
Video: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

Across The UK

London: reports including the full London timeline with it's sections on the resist Bush teaparty, Critical Mass, alternative state procession, school students, street parties and the O.I.L women's peace picnic.
Aberdeen: About 80-100 people demonstrated against the Bush visit to the UK in St Nicholas Square at lunch time.
Bradford: Bradford saw a notable amount of Anti-Bush protest including a rally and the handing of a petition calling for the arrest of Tony Blair on war crimes charges to the police.
Cardiff: The whole city centre brought to a standstill.
Cambridge: 100 people demonstrated toppling the statues of Bush and Blair in the Market Square. No arrests were reported. Indymedia reports from people in the US were read out to the crowd.
Canterbury: About 100-200 people gathered outside the library at 6pm, after several chants lead by Mac someone produced a guitar and an African drum and started a song "We're going to war. Pay your taxes".
Edinburgh: A very peaceful, determined demo took place in the day followed by an evening protest that broke through police lines near the US Consulate. Pictures
Glasgow: In Glasgow reports estimate over 1,000 demonstrators gathered in George Square then took to the surrounding streets. Shawlands Academy pupils were among the striking school students involved.
Kent: A small but enthusiastic group from Ashford peace group,East Kent Greens and supporters from Folkestone etc gathered near Ashford Intl Rail station to demo against Bush with several colourful banners (some made by 10 year olds!) and whistles.
Nottingham: 'No-Bush' demo in Nottingham in Market Square.
Oxford: Around 1500 people turned out, protestors left Brookes University at 5.00pm to march to the city centre on reaching The Plain they found a large, enthusiastic and noisy group of friends, some dancing to the sounds of Oxford's new Radical Samba Band. People then marched enthusiastically up to Carfax where another group was waiting to topple the papier-mache effigy of George 'I-stole-the-presidency' Bush. A die-in and a staged wedding between Bush and Blair also took place during the afternoon. Oxford IMC Feature
Liverpool: 200 stand up scousers stopped the traffic outside Liverpool Town Hall for an hour.
Molesworth: A short vigil was held at the Joint Analysis Centre Molesworth to protest at George Bush’ UK visit.
Swindon: Shoppers and workers in Swindon town centre this lunchtime were slightly bemused to find George W Bush explaining his plans for global domination via a megaphone.
York: 300 people marched through York in the rain to protest about the visit of killer Bush. A statue of Bush, cash in hand, with Blair aside, was toppled.

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19-11-2003 01:40 | 5 comments

Bush Arrives As Protests Increase - Tuesday 18th

As Bush was flying in to London protests were already underway. Over one thousand people marched on the US embassy (via the offices of ExxonMobil) in the Burning Planet March Against Bush. Focussing on climate change the march was noisy and bright and gained support from many passing by. Outside the US Embassy speakers including former Environment minister Michael Meacher, Tony Juniper (Director, Friends of the Earth) Stephen Tindale (Director, Greenpeace)and others all lined up to denounce the destructive policies of the Bush administration and its corporate sponsors.
See [report] [report + pics] - Pictures [ 1] [2] [3]

Meanwhile in Brixton yet another statue of George Bush was being toppled by campaigners, this time complete with mock trial where he was found guilty of a number of charges - see report and pics [ 1] [2].

Earlier in the day another naked protest against Bush took place at the Tate spelling out the words 'Bush Go Home', while students at University College London have occupied part of the university. The London School of Economics Student Union also voted to support the next three days of protests.
Read more >>

17-11-2003 10:31 | 13 comments

Bush Not Welcome: Monday 17th

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.

Read more >>

11-11-2003 23:10 | 20 comments

State Visit - Bush Not Welcome!

UPDATES

14th Nov: "Chasing Bush" SMS Text Tracking Website for the State Visit Launches
14th Nov: Sedgefield Welcoming Committee Protest Announced
14th Nov: Vietnam Vet Ron Kovic will now lead a delegation of STOP BU$H protestors to Downing Street at 11am on Monday 17th where they will hand in a 100,000 signature petition demanding that Bush's visit be called off.

13th Nov: National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice briefs journos + State Visit Timetable Announced
13th Nov: Stop the War Coalition Considers Legal Action

11th Nov: With less than one week to go before the State Visit of US President Bush to the uk, discussions and arguments around high security versus the rights to demonstrate have hit fever pitch, with widespread coverage on TV and in the newspapers. Stories have centred on US demands to close down large areas of central London with figures like London Mayor Ken Livingstone saying that this must not happen.

While the Stop the War Coalition and Muslim Association of Britain - the main organisers of the largest march - have said police will not allow the route of their march to pass parliament or along Whitehall, the police have however said those areas will remain open, althought they have also said that daily road closures at short notice are to be expected.

While the main focus of protests will be in London, other demonstrations are also happening in Sheffield, Manchester, Cambridge, Bristol, Oxford, and many other towns and cities. In London, several days of protests will see a range of actions from mass civil disobedience to street parties.

Listings of planned protests:
see London Listing | ResistBush.org | Stop The War Coalition Muslim Association of Britain (national day of fasting) | Bristol and Swindon | Cambridge | Chester | Sheffield | Oxford | Sedgefield | York | Aylesbury | Exeter | Leeds | Bradford | Manchester | Glasgow | Edinburgh [1,2] | Menwith Hill | more to follow... |

Also See:
Bare your Bum at Bush 1 | Bare your Bum at Bush 2 | Scrap-Bush Women's Collective | NOT WELCOME Pretzel Campaign | Main Online Petition Against Bush Visit (7000+) | Petition 2 | Street Party Against Bush | Stencils and Stickers | SMS Text Tracking System for Bush visit | Virtual March on US Embassy (20th Nov)

Recent Actions:
Bush Statue Toppled by West Yorkshire Peace Campaigners
Cambridge: Activist on Bridge urges Commuters to STOP BUSH

Legal Advice:
ResistBush info (includes 'Sessional Orders')
| Section 44 Terrorism Act info (authorised for use) | Liberty Section 44 Search Monitoring Form (pdf - includes police powers info) | Section 60 Powers | Info from Irish Gluaiseacht | Activist Legal Resource

FTAA
After tea with Tony and the Queen, George will pack his suitcase and head to Miami, where he will be taking part in the fifth Summit of the Americas on the 20-21st of November - for more on the FTAA see here
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London Bush 2003 Feature Archive >>

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Newswire

Text CPS switches charge at court on resist-bush protestor
24-02-2004 01:23

Text Peccadillos proliferate
01-02-2004 19:26

Text A TALE of THREE GLICKS
17-01-2004 11:21

Image 26 finalist entries in anti-bush tv ad competition
15-01-2004 14:52

Image War is Peace
31-12-2003 16:27

Video Video: Stop Bush London march, November 2003
17-12-2003 12:40

Text London Anti-War Demonstration Photos
09-12-2003 18:39

Text Resist Bush 'bubble' arrest, 19/11/03 SW1, witness appeal
07-12-2003 19:49

Image ART OF WAR: WAR HERO
07-12-2003 05:04

Image President of the Apes videos
02-12-2003 01:00

Image Pictures From Bush's visit to the UK
26-11-2003 00:24

Video Modem friendly video from anti-Bush demos in London
25-11-2003 20:31

Text Wanted Film/Pictures of Police agression on Thursday on Picaddily
25-11-2003 10:54

Audio Audio: Cyclist reaches Bu$h motorcade - interview
24-11-2003 19:08

Audio Audio: Bush Statue Countdown
24-11-2003 18:51

Image Protest signs in London
24-11-2003 15:57

Text Demo Pics Wanted
24-11-2003 12:00

Image Samba Party blasts through London's Streets
24-11-2003 02:06

Image 27/11: 'We Interrupt This Empire...' & 'Kilometer 0' in London
23-11-2003 20:26

Text RESIST BUSH - APPEAL FOR WITNESSES
23-11-2003 19:21

Text Pictures Anti-Bush-Protest in Cambridge and London
23-11-2003 17:06

Text NEW FORUM FOR LAAW
23-11-2003 11:59

Video trafalgar square interviews2
23-11-2003 04:50

Video 20/11/03 - trafalgar square interviews
22-11-2003 22:58

Image Messages to Bush pt2
22-11-2003 22:33

Text Bush march: Why it took you 2 hours to move along Malet St
22-11-2003 22:25

Image Messages to Bush pt1
22-11-2003 21:43

Text who was really behind the istanbul bombs?
22-11-2003 20:12

Image a samba day out resisting bush on 20th november
22-11-2003 19:41

Image a samba day out resisting bush 19th november
22-11-2003 19:29

Text Legal Action Against War (LAAW)
22-11-2003 17:40

Text DIRECT ACTION AGAINST DIRTY WARMONGERS
22-11-2003 12:54

Image Trafalgar Square Today
22-11-2003 02:54

Image Anti Bush Demos 19 and 20/11/03
22-11-2003 01:15

Image 4 pictures from Stop Bush 2003
22-11-2003 00:15

Image THANK YOU !
22-11-2003 00:06

Text burning tanks in trafalgar square
21-11-2003 23:04

Video VIDEO n PICs SAMBA DEMO After main BUSH march
21-11-2003 22:27

Text AntiBush Protest London 20 november 2003
21-11-2003 19:44

Text Video of statue toppling available
21-11-2003 19:30

Video one minute on malet street, anti-bush protests
21-11-2003 19:26

Image Trafalgar Square photos
21-11-2003 18:44

Image Police greet protesters at Westminster and Whitehall
21-11-2003 18:24

Image Anti-Bush Protests in Sedgefield - reports from chasing bush site
21-11-2003 18:17

Text Bush has left the Country! Celebrate!
21-11-2003 18:02

Text RESISTBUSH DEFENDANT'S MEETING - SUNDAY
21-11-2003 17:51

Image nightime pictures from trafalger square - thursday
21-11-2003 16:55

Text United Against the War Wolf
21-11-2003 16:42

Text Today: Radio show on ESF / Anti-Bush / FTAA 5pm-6.30pm
21-11-2003 16:32

Video World regime change wish as bush is toppled
21-11-2003 15:38

Text U.S. Energy Bill Stuffed with Fossil Fuel Industry Subsidies; Warming Continues
21-11-2003 15:20

Text Fax your MP
21-11-2003 15:07

Text Aberdeen protest agains Bush visit
21-11-2003 14:50

Image Hundreds of people push out of trafalgar square
21-11-2003 14:37

Image Various shots from the Stop The War demo in London 20/11/03
21-11-2003 14:35

Image Pics from Oxford Street - Anti-Bush Samba - thurs evening
21-11-2003 12:21

Image Congrats from The USA
21-11-2003 04:08

Text Solidarity from Sparkle Girl
21-11-2003 03:19

Image trafalgar square pic-the police are lying bastards
21-11-2003 03:08

Text Peace, Chinese Food, and Sprinklers
21-11-2003 02:49

Text Thessaloniki 7 supporters at bush demo
21-11-2003 01:26

Text Hundreds of Thousands of Protesters Decry Bush Visit in Week of Resistance
21-11-2003 00:12

Video Fiery scenes from Trafalgar Square Thursday evening of Bush visit
20-11-2003 23:33

Image My favorite placards of today. (and a bit of graffiti)
20-11-2003 23:14

Image First batch of pics from Trafalgar Square Thursday evening
20-11-2003 22:04

Text Esso Garage Action
20-11-2003 21:18

Text attendance numbers
20-11-2003 20:34

Video Time lapse video of Trafalgar Square
20-11-2003 19:20

Image Jon Snow's tie
20-11-2003 17:56

Audio Audio report from Trafalgar Square: the toppling of Bush (17:22)
20-11-2003 17:53

Audio Audio report 16:05
20-11-2003 17:35

Text STOP PRESS: Times reporter done it before
20-11-2003 16:25

Text Congratulations to Laura Peek, Times reporter!!!
20-11-2003 16:03

Text Demonstrators force Powell to cancel event
20-11-2003 13:42

Text Bush/Blair Damage Control Conference - a view from the States
20-11-2003 13:36

Image images from outside buckingham palace - wed evening
20-11-2003 13:16

Text London street webcams offline (surprise surprise, again...)
20-11-2003 12:48

Text 'City of London Closed to Bush' banner hang
20-11-2003 11:30

Image AP pic links from wednesday's protests in london
20-11-2003 11:14

Image Palace brigade stopped by sit down
20-11-2003 10:43

Image Civil diobedience scenes yesterday.
20-11-2003 10:32

Text Peace movement celebrated at City Hall
20-11-2003 09:53

Text Video of Protests at Buckingham Palace, Wednesday
20-11-2003 04:10

Text BBC Reporters Timeline - wednesday
20-11-2003 03:21

Image Counter Insurgency Rebel Clown Army deployed against bush!
20-11-2003 02:52

Text PoP dEFECT Radio - King George w Bush Audio mixes
20-11-2003 02:29

Image police facilitating peaceful protest - london 19th Nov 2003
20-11-2003 02:15

Image Fountains run blood red - traf sq
20-11-2003 02:03

Image Street Party Mayhem
20-11-2003 01:43

Image Pics from wed anti-bush demos
19-11-2003 23:48

Image O-I-L women's peace action - trafalger square 1pm
19-11-2003 23:05

Video Central London Sambanistas give Mall cops the runaround.
19-11-2003 23:02

Image couple of critical mass pics from parliament
19-11-2003 22:51

Text Edinburgh Demo
19-11-2003 22:47

Video Digicam video clip of royal coach moving off
19-11-2003 21:47

Video Esclusive George W Bush intyview from Chicken Nugget News!!
19-11-2003 20:59

Image Wednesday afternoon pics of Bush visit protests
19-11-2003 20:26

Text BUSh_Powell action now???
19-11-2003 16:39

Image No Afraid to Say We Told You So - a view from the States
19-11-2003 15:32

Text Anti-Bush Street Party marches to Trafalgar Square
19-11-2003 15:22

Image Wednesday morning pics of Bush visit protests
19-11-2003 15:17

Image pics from todays alternative state procession
19-11-2003 14:49

Text Senior Royal and tart Shocker
19-11-2003 11:57

Image Protests in London / Americans turn against Bush: 'We won't die for oil!'
19-11-2003 10:11

Image Citizens FOR police
19-11-2003 08:37

Text Anti-Bush Mp3s: Rock the Protest
19-11-2003 06:20

Text Amnesty Guantánamo Bay Demonstration - thursday
19-11-2003 03:50

Text University College London still occupied by anti-war activists - latest
19-11-2003 02:36

Image BUSH GO HOME - naked protest at tate
19-11-2003 01:38

Image pics of rhythms of resistance on first anti-bush demo
19-11-2003 01:18

Image Burning Planet demo report & pics
19-11-2003 01:05

Image pix from burning planet unwelcome bush protest to US embassy
19-11-2003 00:57

Image Court Case Against Bush in Brixton, Tuesday 18 Nov.
19-11-2003 00:43

Text Burning Planet March report
18-11-2003 22:19

Image BRIXTON BUSH JUDGMENT
18-11-2003 21:53

Text Students Occupy!
18-11-2003 20:37

Text Bush visit: Parliament Square protesters demand protection and rights
18-11-2003 17:29

Text Parliament Sq protest
18-11-2003 13:48

Text Police Filmed Returning ESF Visitors at Waterloo
18-11-2003 11:14

Image Bush, welcome to London !
18-11-2003 05:59


London Bush 2003 Newswire Archive >>

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