UK:Anti-War March Today Expects 50,000 Turnout

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The brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley has urged people to turn out in force today for an anti-war march.The Stop The War Coalition hopes that up to 50,000 people will attend the event in London to demand the withdrawal of all troops from Iraq. “For Ken’s sake and for the sake of everyone in Iraq I ask you to make your feelings known to our government, to protest and to join the demonstration. “The more people raise their voices, the safer we will all be.”

Among the speakers were Tony Benn; former Labour MP George Galloway; campaigning journalist John Pilger; union leaders Dave Prentis and Bob Crow; London Mayor Ken Livingstone; Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams; and Aleida Guevara, daughter of Che.Various anti-war seminars have also taken place that attracted speakers from across Europe, including Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND.

“With the US and Britain waging illegal war, threatening nuclear first-strike and developing new nuclear weapons, the issues of war and peace have never been so important,” she said.“The illegal war against Iraq and continued occupation is leading to increased death and an escalation of violence. The violence and the killing will not end until the occupation ends.


“This weekend people from all over Europe will show the world their opposition to Bush’s warmongering policies and the support they have received from the British government.”

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3636558

[baby_bear]

1. Is it only London that is having a protest?

I'm hoping it will occur all over the EU.

It should be happening here.

s_m

[burrowowl]

2. Million Worker March in DC eom

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3. Thousands March in Anti-War Protest

More than 15,000 peace activists took part in a major anti-war march and rally today to denounce Britain’s continued involvement in Iraq.
The protest saw huge crowds take to the Capital’s streets and was supported by the brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley.

Rose Gentle and Reg Keys – parents of two soldiers killed in Iraq – spoke to thousands gathered in Trafalgar Square for the rally and strongly criticised the Government’s role in the Middle East country.

But the peaceful protest was marred by nine arrests for public order offences and minor assaults on police, and violent scuffles broke out at one point as a group of anarchists tried to storm the stage at the rally.

Mrs Gentle, 40, accompanied by daughter Maxine, 14, and husband George, 45, told the rally, to a loud cheer, that the Prime Minister should come down to Trafalgar Square and speak to them. “It’s time for Tony Blair to pull the troops out, innocent people are getting killed,” she said afterwards. Her son Private Gordon Gentle, 19, from Glasgow was serving with the Royal Highland Fusiliers when he was killed in a roadside blast in Basra in June this year.


http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3638554

[tinanator]

4. sounds like they did it

when estimates are pegged at over 15,000, its a safe bet that they had a MASSIVE turnout.

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6. Tens of thousands throng London to protest Iraq war

Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of central London to protest against the Iraq war as Prime Minister Tony Blair struggled to shake-off fierce criticism of the invasion back home.

Organisers said that between 65,000 and 75,000 protesters had taken to the streets for the peaceful march, which began at Russell Square, close to the British museum. Police put the figure at between 15,000 and 20,000. Protesters from around the world clutched banners and blew whistles as they marched towards Trafalgar Square, where a mass rally was taking place.

"Troops out," screamed one of many placards being waved by protesters
"Blair must go," said another. Sunday's march was the latest in a series of demonstrations organised by the Stop The War Coalition before and after the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 that was backed by Britain.

The march was arranged Sunday to coincide with the end to the three-day European Social Forum held in London. It comes also after a stormy week for Blair, who was accused in parliament last Wednesday of misrepresenting intelligence on Iraq to make the case for war.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world/view/112153/1/.html

[leftchick]

5. Photos.... I Love The UK Protests!!!

Some of the tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of central London to protest against the Iraq (news - web sites) war as Prime Minister Tony Blair (news - web sites) struggled to shake-off fierce criticism of the invasion back home.(AFP/Carl De Souza)



Anti-war protesters during a demonstration over Westminster Bridge, London, Sunday, Oct. 17, 2004. The protest saw huge crowds take to the streets in a bid to end the conflict in Iraq (news - web sites) after Paul Bigley, the brother of murdered hostage Ken Bigley, said in support: 'The more people raise their voices, the safer we will all be.' (AP Photo/PA, Fiona Hanson)