BRITAIN: 350,000 join anti-war march in London

BY BOB WING

LONDON, September 28 — British Prime Minister Tony Blair may be President George Bush's only European ally in his drive for war on Iraq. But the people of the United Kingdom today forcibly demonstrated their opposition to forcible regime change.

This afternoon, at least 350,000 people from all over the UK descended upon the corridors of power for a massive and peaceful "Don't Attack Iraq/Freedom for Palestine" march and rally.

As I file this report at 4pm, less than half the march, which commenced at 12.30pm, has arrived at the Hyde Park rally.

Recent opinion polls show that 70% of Britons oppose Britain joining a US-led war against Iraq. "There is not just opposition to the prospect of war — there is boiling anger", asserts Andrew Murray, chairperson of the Stop the War coalition which, together with the Muslim Association of Britain, sponsored today's rally.

The anti-war protest was endorsed by 12 national trade unions, numerous Muslim and anti-racist organisations, members of parliament and the mayor of London.

Organisers have called for another massive "Don't Attack Iraq Day" on October 31.

"Opposition to this war in this country is the most incredible coalition I have ever seen", says Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour MP.

"Since September 11, Islamophobia has spread across the UK and activated the Muslim and South Asian populations", said Asad Rehman, a national organiser for the Stop the War coalition. South Asians are the largest group of non-white people in the UK, numbering about 15% in London alone.

"I didn't go on earlier demonstrations but I am now because the countdown to war has started and I find it terrifying", explained march participant Jemma Redgrave.

Robert "3-D" Del Naja of the pop group Massive Attack said: "I am marching because I feel very disheartened about our government and the way it reacts to America and American foreign policy."

Meanwhile, in Parliament, Labour Party members are staging a revolt against Blair's Iraq policy. They warn that the 56-strong rebellion of this week is just a warm-up. Blair also faces powerful opposition at next week's national Labour Party conference.

Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the third largest in Britain, declared his opposition to what he called the US's "imperialist" policy.

[Bob Wing is the editor of the San Francisco-based War Times journal.]

From Green Left Weekly, October 2, 2002.

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From GLW issue 511