Why we protested

Green Left
Weekly’s ANDREW MARTIN spoke to protesters about why they were there.

“We’re here for the Iraqi people, to stop the war and to protest
against John Howard. He represents war, hate and anger. All he wants to
do is fight.

“The police think they can hit us and everything. It’s mainly Middle
Easterners like us they target. The media doesn’t represent us fairly.
They just show that Middle Easterners are bad, and we are terrorists. But
we aren’t. We stand up for our rights, we have rights as people, you know.

“They’re swearing at us, and hitting us, but we’re just kids ... They
want us to have respect for them, but they don’t even have respect for
us. The only way we get heard is by getting up and making a protest. Why
can’t John Howard face us? He doesn’t have the guts to face us” — Tama,
Vaya and Sarah, high school students.

“I’d rather not see the peace movement split, or fracture or become
inefficient because it’s infighting, and I’d also rather not see violence.
I came down to see what I could do as a [peace monitor], but it’s all under
control.

“It’s pretty rough that the government’s denying people their right
to protest. There seems to be more police than people. Democracy in this
country is a bit of a crock anyway. The supposed left, a leftist government,
and the NSW Labour Council are stomping on this group that is trying to
protest. They are buying into the media frenzy about it, rather than trying
to solve problems.

“[Labor wanted] to put protests off until Palm Sunday ... well, people
ae dying now and the more protests the more likely we are to have an impact
on stopping the war ... it shows they’re not that concerned about what
is going on with the war" — Andrew, involved in the Walk Against the
War Coalition.

“I’m here to offer my support to the students. I think after what
happened [on March 26], the students needed a bit of protection from the
police tactical response group, who are all hyped up here. And I think
if it hadn’t been for all the mothers, fathers and grandmothers that are
here something would have happened a lot sooner today.

“Labor’s position is appalling, absolutely appalling. I’ve always been
a Labor Party supporter and I think they are finished” — Linda, parent.

“I’m against the war and I’d like to stop it. I’m sick of people
dying. I reckon the [police allegation of violent protesters] is bullshit,
look around you, can you see any violence?” — Steven, year 11 student at
De La Salle, Cronulla.

“The war is really wrong, it’s just trying to get oil. These protests
do a lot, they show we care. And we don’t get a vote, so otherwise we couldn’t
have a say. There was just too much police brutality and racism at the
last one. If there were less police, the protests would be more peaceful.
Most of our teachers are supportive, but they can’t say anything" — Levi,
Smiths Hill, year 10.

“I’m opposed to the war, I’m a mother and a university student and
a part of Books Not Bombs. I’m surprised at the lack of solidarity with
the high school students ... they are admirable and they should be congratulated.
My call, like [journalist] John Pilger, is for non-violent civil disobedience
— today” — Karen, protester.

“I’m here to support this part of the anti-war movement, and to support
the right of all people to march, at the time they choose to. I think that
young people should be able to engage in the movement in the way they choose
... The paramilitarisation of the police has obviously manifested itself
today and the sight of these police standing around us is enough to make
you realise what kind of democracy we participate in. It’s disgusting"
— Anthea, Sydney University student.

“We don’t want war, we want peace. The police shouldn’t be here. They’re
racist. They just make the situation worse. We get hassled by the cops
all the time. They just come up to you and say, 'What you doing?’. We say
'nothin", but they just say 'show us some ID’. It makes us feel like nothing.
I had to wag school to come out, I’m in trouble tomorrow” — Muhammad,
15-year-old high school student.

“The police have to be here, but they have no right to shut down our
protest. Labor and Liberal are not doing right for us. This war is about
power, all the US is proving is that it in charge” — Tash and Shania,
Turramurra High School students.

“We don’t have democracy in Iraq, we don’t have democracy here. They
said that we, that Middle Eastern people, started the fight [on March 26].
The police locked us in a street for three hours and laughed at us. Let’s
lock them up for three hours and see if they get aggressive” — high school
student and Iraqi refugee, name withheld.

From Green Left Weekly, April 9, 2003.

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From GLW issue 533