Don't Attack Iraq Day of Action across England, Scotland and Wales

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Don't Attack Iraq Day of Action across England, Scotland and Wales

Thousands of anti-war activists across Britain took part in actions yesterday to demand that there should be no war against Iraq and that the government take no part in the Anglo-US plans to attack Iraq. Stop the War Coalition, supported by CND and ARROW, had called for non-violent resistance against war and attacks on the rights of peoples by engaging in acts of civil disobedience, however large or small.

Central London Protests
Protesters came from different venues and headed to Parliament Square for a short rally and march to the entrance of Downing Street in Whitehall. The police presence was massive and many waited in reserve in mini-buses in side streets. One helicopter circled high above throughout the demonstration. Some policemen were on horseback.

The main body of the protesters marched down the Strand to Trafalgar Square, along Whitehall and on to Parliament Square. There was a brief sit down protest at the junction of Parliament Square and Whitehall; as usual, the police urged them to move onto the Square's open ground. All the traffic came to a standstill around Parliament Square and Whitehall for about two hours. There were several speakers including Tariq Ali, Lindsey German of Stop the War Coalition, and Jeremy Corbyn MP who gave an impassioned speech. They all condemned the possible attack on Iraq. At around 6:45 pm the organisers urged protesters to march to the entrance of Downing Street, in Whitehall.

Over 2,500 had gathered outside the House of Commons to demonstrate against an attack on Iraq. Trade unionists and students were among the most active. Slogans were shouted and banners were waved, some protesters were dressed for Halloween. Outside Downing Street, the demonstration became bigger and bigger as more people joined in. This was the highlight of the demonstration, as the crowds became very noisy, chanting slogans and waving banners. At this point, there were protesters filling up Whitehall from both ends and pushing forward towards the entrance of Downing Street. The policemen on horseback were brought in as were a hundred policemen, all forming a cordon at the entrance of Downing Street. The policemen on horseback went into action to push the crowds back, which they succeeded, and a number of people were wrestled to the ground and arrested and put into the vans. There was a tense standoff with the police, the protesters accusing them of protecting the "warmongers". This lasted about an hour and more policemen arrived to form a tighter cordon.

At Downing Street a Samba band played. There were protesters from all walks of life, old and young, trade unionists and students, individuals and organisations. After the standoff with the police, the protesters spontaneously began to march down Whitehall towards Trafalgar Square where they all gathered though less in numbers, and people staged sit-ins. The policemen rushed to Trafalgar Square and formed cordons and all the traffic stopped briefly.

After half an hour the protesters headed down the Strand, with people holding a number of little sit-ins along the way, down the Aldwych and into Houghton Street, outside the London School of Economics. Here the protesters dispersed around 9:00 pm. Anti-war marchers from SOAS/UCL (University of London) on the way to LSE passed through the British Museum and past the reading room shouting slogans.

First reports were that police snatch squads had arrested 14 people during this time. An eyewitness reported that the sight of police snatch squads "have more resemblance to a dictatorship than to what one should expect from the supposed right to protest in a ‘civilised democracy’".

During the day, a "disco akt-ion" took place at Liverpool Street station. A women’s anti-war action took place on Westminster Bridge, close to Parliament, around midday. Traffic on the bridge was blocked and protesters made their case against the war with puppets, street theatre and banners. Some women climbed onto lampposts and put up two banners, but police forcefully intervened, cutting down the banners and aggressively dragging down protesters. A number of people were hurt and one woman was arrested. Workers at War Resisters' International and Peace News, both based at 5 Caledonian Rd in London, Kings Cross, took part in the day of action against the war on Iraq. The staff of both international peace organisations/magazines hung a banner out of their office windows.

The "Pedal for Peace, Halloween Ride Against War" hit the streets as part of the day of direct action against war on Iraq. As the Peace Camp outside the Imperial War Museum faces eviction, the Critical Mass cycle ride set off at 3.20pm through the London, to reach Parliament Square by 5:30pm. Around 100 people participated in the ride around London's war-related sites, including the Ministry of Defence. Critical Mass also stopped at TotalFinaElf, Lukoil, BP, the Shell HQ, Alvis, BAE Systems, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, GKN, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin UK, the American Chamber of Commerce, the Armed Forces Recruiting Centre in the Strand and the US Embassy. Meanwhile, around 25 police and police photographers stood by outside the camp.

Leafleting Royal Air Force Concert
Five activists of the anti-militarist group d10 leafleted a Royal Air Force concert at the Royal Festival Hall on October 30. Under the slogan "welfare not warfare", and using a banner saying "Against all bombing", they gave out some 200.

The event at the Royal Festival Hall, organised by the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund Enterprise (RAFBFE), was aimed to raise money for those ex-RAF recruits who have been let down by the military. However, on their website, the RAFBFE claims that its first objective is to "promote the recruitment and efficiency of the RAF", in effect inciting more young recruits to get trapped in the army, and promoting warfare.

Lunchtime Actions in North London
A small group of protestors stopped the traffic at Finsbury Park on the Stroud Green Road at midday. About a dozen protestors sat across the road and stopped traffic for about half an hour, while other supporters handed leaflets to passers-by and to the drivers of the affected vehicles. The police arrived after about ten minutes and negotiated with the protesters while diverting traffic round other streets causing quite appreciable commotion on the roads.

Afterwards at one o'clock, a small rally took place at the Clock Tower in Crouch End, with petitioning and leafleting of passers-by and traffic. Response was very supportive.

Camberwell Students against the War
Students at Camberwell College of Arts held a lunchtime demonstration and "Die in" over Tony Blair's plan to join a US led invasion of Iraq.

Protest in Ilford
A successful anti-war protest was held in Ilford in the evening as part of the national day of action against the war, organised by Redbridge Against the War (RAW). Between 80 and 100 local people gathered outside the town hall to voice their opposition to the US and British governments’ drive for war against Iraq. Linda Perham, the MP for Ilford North and one of the 25 Labour MPs who voted against the war in the recent House of Commons debate, addressed the crowd. She said that it was very important for people to oppose this war and added that in her view the present anti-war movement was bigger and growing much faster than the anti-Vietnam war movement in the 1960s. Then Bob Littlewood, a Redbridge councillor, addressed the protestors. He made the point that the anti-war movement was also growing rapidly in the US and that in fact there is a significant anti-war movement in that country. After the speeches the protesters went on a noisy march through the centre of Ilford and past the local mosque, behind a banner carried by two young female students from a local school. Along the route of the march, passers-by and onlookers expressed their support for the anti-war stand of the protest. Drivers honked their horns in support and the worshippers at the local mosque were particularly vociferous in their support. The march ended back at Ilford Town Hall, where people stood around discussing for some time after. Fiona Prior, a representative of RAW, said that this was the most successful event the group has so far organised and declared that the anti-war organising work in Ilford was going "from strength to strength".

Lambeth UNISON Stop the War Demonstration
Over 30 UNISON members from Lambeth assembled on the steps of the town hall to protest against the government's plans to join an attack on Iraq.

Anti-War Demonstration in Waltham Forest
About 100 people took part in a demonstration in Walthamstow, including a group of girls from the local secondary school and a group from a sixth-form college nearby. Neil Gerrard, the local MP, was there and joined a spontaneous march around the town centre, blocking traffic and taking the police by surprise. The protesters then reassembled opposite the underground station where they shouted slogans, and handed out leaflets to the many commuters and passers-by. Many signed the petition against war.

Bedford
Bedford’s first demonstration against the war was organised, backed by the local MP.

Anti-War Demonstration in Brighton
In Brighton, up to a thousand demonstrators blocked the seafront. Police in riot gear using pepper spray charged with batons into the crowd, which included families with young children. The demonstrators included many students from Sussex and Brighton Universities as well as many local people, who gathered in a carnival atmosphere. Eyewitnesses reported that around 35-40 people were arrested.

Other events in Brighton included a student occupation and a mass bike ride.

Bristol Protest
In the evening, a march took place from the centre of Bristol to the Territorial Army barracks in Whiteladies Road where there was a sit-down for a time in the road. The protesters then marched back down to the centre. Over 500 people took part in this event which was fronted by a massive "Don't Attack Iraq" banner.

A number of participants expressed the conviction that this constructive and uplifting day enabled the groups opposing the government's war plans to get their message across. There was coverage on local television and reporters from the local newspapers were in attendance.

Cambridge Actions against the War
Several hundred students and members of University staff attended a peaceful rally in Market Square at midday to demonstrate their opposition to the government’s plans for war against Iraq. Hundreds turned up to their lectures sporting white armbands in solidarity with the protests, and to oppose a war of aggression. Some staff joined in and encouraged their students to do the same.

Following the rally, and in accordance with Tony Benn’s call to "stop the schools", the Gordon Laboratory in the Austin Building, New Museum Site, was occupied. Around 300-350 students took part in this show of symbolic civil disobedience, organised and lead by Cambridge Students Against the War (CamSAW). The Gordon Laboratory had been chosen from a shortlist of possible occupation venues for its "strong links" with the defence companies QinetiQ and DSTL. These are the successor companies to DERA (Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, MoD owned), the company which "stimulated" the creation of the Gordon Laboratory. Today, DSTL (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory) is still owned by the MoD, QinetiQ is being privatised, and the Blair government has of late chosen the Carlyle Group as the preferred bidder. The Carlyle group is a US private equity firm, and employs a host of former politicians, amongst them John Major and George Bush Senior. People made anti-war t-shirts and banners, gave interviews to the press, wrote essays and discussed what to do next to stop the war.

Nicholas Martin, CamSAW’s Press Spokesman, said, "A case of legitimate self-defence against external attack can clearly not be made to justify this war, which means that the government is contemplating fighting a war of aggression. This is a war crime, sadly and simply." Strong concern was also voiced that war against Iraq would lead to yet more civilian suffering for an innocent population already hard-pressed by sanctions.

A short scuffle with the police at the beginning of the occupation apart, the day passed peacefully, and in good spirits. The strength and breadth of Cambridge students’ and staff opposition to the war was amply demonstrated.

The Campeace Ring of Peace around Market Square was also successful, with Market Square surrounded by peace protestors for an hour at lunchtime.

A group of Women in Black supporters staged a "die-in" outside Great St Mary's, to the shock of passing students and tourists.

Anyone passing Fitzwilliam Museum would have seen a banner hanging off the roof, right in the middle, saying "Stop the War - Oct 31st".

In the evening, speeches were made on the subject of Iraq in one of the local churches. Earlier in the day, Edward Said had given a lecture in Cambridge while wearing a white armband to support the cause.

Colchester Sixth Form Students Action against War
At around 1pm, at the gates of Colchester Sixth Form College, a collection of local activists, children and sixth form students, numbering about 15, assembled and distributed anti-war leaflets. At approximately 1.30pm, about ten of these, mostly sixth form students, marched through town, towards the Total petrol station at the bottom of East Hill.

This action was taken, due to the links between the push for war, and multinational oil companies. The group marched down the road for a short distance before arrival, and then staged a peaceful sit-down, blockading the forecourt of the garage, and displaying banners proclaiming against a war for oil. The sit-down lasted for around half an hour, until the police arrived. The group had previously agreed to leave upon police arrival, wishing the protest to remain totally non-violent. Upon the arrival of the police, the group stood up, and held a one-minute silence for all victims of war, before leaving, displaying banners and heading back towards the Sixth Form College.

This action coincided with other actions in the Colchester area, including a large demonstration and "die-in" involving over 400 students, at Essex University, and a vigil held in the evening at the Town Hall. Sixth Form student, Sam Jones (16), present on the petrol station action, said of it "The proposed war on Iraq is a war purely for profit. They pose no real threat to us and there is no evidence that they possess weapons of mass destruction, unlike the US and Britain. Any action taken would mean the destruction of innocent lives and as such I feel it to be important for people to take a stand against it."

Essex University Anti-War Protest
Hundreds of students and staff, including activists of Essex University Peace Campaign, took part in the national day of action against war on Iraq, attending a lunchtime rally and "die in" at the University of Essex.

The day began with anti-war banners hung from buildings and lecture theatres, while thousands of leaflets were handed out. Passing students eagerly took posters and stickers from a stall, and soon they appeared on every wall.

By 1pm, a crowd of hundreds had gathered in the main square. Anti-war posters, placards and banners were held up. The start of the protest was marked by the alarming sound of air raid sirens played over a sound system. Hundreds more then gathered to watch as the deafening crash of bombs rolled over the campus. This was the signal for around 40-50 volunteers to perform the die in. Figures in white overalls, blue helmets and scream-horror masks then drew chalk lines around the bodies on the ground. A large puppet of a hideous Blair/poodle mutant dog presided over the whole scene.

The rally was then addressed by speakers who described the horrors of the USA's new biotech weapons programme and the history of US support for wars, genocide, dictators and oil profits in the Middle East. The crowd cheered as a list of recent and ongoing actions against war in Britain and around the globe was read out. Students were particularly inspired by news of the occupations in other colleges, and are becoming aware of the links between universities and weapons manufacturers.

Documentaries about the history of the Gulf war were then shown in the theatre, revealing more shocking evidence of the US government’s real motives, and the human cost.

The whole campus seemed to be talking about the war and the anti-war protests, and many are more committed than ever to joining protests to stop this criminal war and the whole insane system that produces it.

Oxford No War Blockade
At 2.30pm over 150 people successfully blocked the main highway into Oxford for an hour opposite the Said Business School. The School responded by erecting metal barriers with chains and ringing the doors with security. The Business School has been built with money from the arms dealer Wafic Said, who donated £20 million towards its funding. The site on which the building now stands was the site of a five month protest camp in 1998, which attempted to prevent the dismantling of the former railway station, a Grade II listed building, and the destruction of nearby trees to build a six-lane traffic junction. Protesters moved on after two hours after police made several arrests.

Scores of cyclists joined many others on Broad Street for a final rally of over 500 people, following an intense and hectic day of anti-war action. Four hundred white peace poppies were planted on the (off-limits) Castle Mound, along with two Palestinian flags. Cyclists blocked traffic at several locations throughout the afternoon, causing a heavy police presence; who at one point commandeered a local bus to take them to the site of the actions. Police pursued hundreds of students, pensioners, radical cheerleaders and trolley pushing parents through Oxford.

Students held sit-down protests all over the centre of town, leading to several arrests, and also organised a Samba band. There were events also at Brookes University and by the train station. American and British students joined forces to blockade the street by lying down, to be joined by banner waving pensioners. Police called in horses and a dog handler and extra troops. Ignoring the Police, one Stamford University US student said, "We have to show the world that many Americans are also against this war."

A lecture on Iraq by Dennis Halliday at St. Anthony's college was packed out, with people hanging from the open windows.

Thanet
A torchlight vigil was held in Thanet.

Barnsley Anti-War Demonstration
Thirty 30 protesters brought traffic to a halt in Barnsley; blockading a major roundabout and then marching slowly down the ringroad.

Birmingham
Protests were held outside Pebble Mill and in the City Centre.

Leeds
Students took to the streets and blockaded the roads.

Liverpool
Around 150 students occupied the Senate and held a roof-top protest. Roads were also blocked.

Actions in Manchester against War
At 8am around 20 protesters entered Oxford Road in Fallowfield and sat down in a symbolic act of opposition to the war. Carrying banners which read "Stop the War" and "War is not the solution in Iraq", people held the road for around five minutes.

Manchester reported a 1,000-strong crowd blocking Oxford Road completely in the evening for over an hour. Police were out in force with horses but unable to move the crowd. One protester had has foot injured as the police pushed into the crowd on horseback.

Earlier, the stop the war march of 1,000 people congregated after a series of smaller focused demonstrations and events around the city. The Critical Mass "Stop the cycle of violence" demonstration rode slowly round the centre of town dressed in Halloween costumes, slowing traffic to walking pace.

The march gathered momentum along Oxford Road, handing out flyers on the way and explaining the situation to passers-by who were encouraged to join the demonstration. It ended in Piccadilly Gardens, where speeches were given. The demonstration was characterised by the depth of feeling of the participants.

Around 150 people and a Samba band took part in a march around the University of Manchester before regrouping and occupying the University maths tower.

Actions in Newcastle.
In the evening, more than 400 people took part in a rally at the monument to mark "Don't Attack Iraq" Day. After some short speeches condemning Anglo-US plans to attack Iraq, people marched through the centre of Newcastle shouting slogans and crossed the Millennium bridge.

Another rally was held at the Baltic Arts Centre before the protest made an attempt to march across the Tyne Bridge but were confronted by the police. After a short sit-down protest, the march returned across the Millennium Bridge and finished near the quayside. "Hands off the Middle East", "Our streets, their war", "Bush, Blair and Sharon are the terrorists" were among the slogans shouted with many "Don't Attack Iraq" banners. Among the protesters were students and working people from the area. Banners included the lecturers union AUT and Unison. All marched behind the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition banner.

Nottingham
A protest was held in the City Centre with banner drops. Students blockaded the road and marched with a cavalcade of cars to join the protesters in the City Centre.

Protests in Sheffield
As part of the day of action against war in Iraq, Bikes Not Bombs took part in a Critical Mass protest, stopping morning rush hour traffic on the main ring road in Sheffield. About 100 people on foot and on bikes used oil free transport to protest about the corporate oil interests underpinning the Middle East war drive. They carried banners saying "No Blood for Oil", "Don’t Attack Iraq" and "90% of the casualties of war are civilians". The action ended at the University for a protest against Boeing who are funding a new aerospace unit within the engineering department. Boeing Corporation produces many of the arms that would be used in an attack on Iraq. Radio Sheffield reported the protest sympathetically, sending back live reports every 25 minutes or so for the best part of two hours.

Lunch time saw 40 people demonstrating in Burngreave, while others protested in front of the Northern General Hospital, and public meetings were held in the Unison offices and other city centre locations at many of which anti-war films were shown.

Around 100 students from Sheffield University Student Stop the War Coalition marched from the Students’ Union to the Engineering building on Mappin Street, occupied it, and prepared to spend the night there.

Emily Walker, a first year French and Spanish student, explained why she is occupying her university: "For me being involved with things is an act for faith. I believe you should stand up for the poor, give voice to the voiceless, and fight for the rights of the oppressed. Occupation is saying with your whole life that you’re passionate about something. As students we don’t have the power to go on strike, but this is something that we can do, individually, communally and nationally, to make a difference."

Jenny Brown a first year Politics student added: "It’s to try and make an impact. To draw people’s attention to the situation and encourage other people to take a stand. This is my first time taking in part in anything like this. I’m doing it because we haven’t been considered at all. It’s going to be done in our – British people’s – names, but our point of view hasn’t been considered. The people of Iraq’s point of view hasn’t been considered either."

A rally in front of the Peace Gardens in the city centre attracted over 600 people. From 4.30pm came with banners, signs and placards. Many came in fancy dress. And, in the Halloween spirit, a giant caricatured "Blair Witch" head hovered. Sheffield Socialist Choir sang, Sheffield Samba Band played, and speakers included Yvonne Ridley (Express journalist, imprisoned by the Taleban, who had come to Sheffield specifically to take part in the days antiwar actions), Musheir El-Farra (from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign), Tony Pearson, (Unison Regional Officer), as well as people giving the crowd news of protests they had participated in all across the city. A veteran from the first Gulf War said that after seeing war up close he is determined it is not the answer: "Politicians are sending young men out to die when all these troubles can be sorted out by talking."

At 6.30, immediately after the city centre rally, about 100 protesters moved off from the Peace Gardens and, led by the Samba band, made their way (again holding up traffic) to join the Student Occupation on Mappin Street.

Stop the War Demonstration in Glasgow
Four hundred people marched in Glasgow. Some carried a long banner in support of the Palestinian people’s struggle. The rally was characterised by the unity of the diverse cross-section of protesters. The march was accompanied by a sound system, with people dancing in costume, and speeches were delivered at the end of the march.

Anti-War Protest at Welsh Assembly
Six anti-war protesters halted proceedings in the chamber of the Welsh Assembly on October 30. They got over the public gallery barrier and scattered mass destruction flyers about while AM's were told to leave by the speaker. One of the protesters zip-tied himself to the speaker’s desk as security and police bundled the protesters out of the chamber while ant-war slogans were shouted. No arrests were made.

More Anti War Protests in Cardiff
Anti war protesters, associated with the group who took over the Welsh Assembly, tool part in actions against the war on October 31. Large anti-war banners were dropped from the Castle in the centre of town at 1.45pm. They remained for about 15 minutes before castle staff managed to remove them.