We are peaceful, the WAR is violent!

This open letter to Bob Carr was issued by Books Not Bombs on April 2.

You call us violent demonstrators but we are for peace.

We want the bloody, unjust and illegal war in Iraq to stop.

We want the bombing to stop.

We want the troops to be brought home now.

You call OUR protests violent.

But YOU called out hundreds of armed police against high

school students.

Instructed them to use force instead of reason to resolve

conflict.

But you cannot bully us, Mr Premier.

We will show you peaceful protest.

We will show you the OPPOSITE to what we see on the news

every hour, every day.

The celebration of MURDER by the armies of the rich and

powerful.

By the armies of President Big Oil.

We young people have minds of our own.

We don't follow orders blindly.

We are not like the soldiers who were ordered to "kill those

that need killing".

We are a coalition of the unwilling.

We are not like the Premier's Office.

We are not like the union bureaucracy.

We don't jump when you say jump.

We won't shut up when you say shut up.

People are being massacred and we won't just watch it on TV.

We are taking to the streets.

We will be peaceful, you watch us Mr Carr.

But the world will be watching too

how well you keep your police under control.

April 2, Sydney Town Hall.

We are peaceful protesters.

It is the WAR that is violent.

From Green Left Weekly, April 9, 2003.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 533