BY LACHLAN MALLOCH

SYDNEY — In an historic local action that reminded participants of the anti-Vietnam war movement, six-hundred people gathered on a Saturday evening to march through the Norton Street caf‚ strip on February 1, showing their opposition to war on Iraq. Organised by the Leichhardt Stop the War Group, the protest was peppered with placards saying “Make machiatto, not war!” and “People’s power can stop the war!”, candles and torches.

“We are a local movement, but we are part of billions globally who oppose the war on Iraq, and we are force that can win!” declared pro-refugee and anti-war campaigner, Paul Benedek, who is the Socialist Alliance candidate for Port Jackson in the NSW state election.

Ten-year-old Joseph Alcock said that he didn’t understand why children, like the Iraqi refugees he visits in Villawood, should suffer from war. Other speakers included: deputy mayor of Leichhardt Jamie Parker, who is also the Greens’ candidate for the state seat of Port Jackson; Leichhardt mayor Maire Sheehan; and Frank Panucci from the Italian workers’ organisation FILEF.

From Green Left Weekly, February 5, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

Tools

• Bookmark This Page
• Print This Page