Tasmanian rallies draw huge crowds

BY
IAN STOLP & JULES GREEN

HOBART — Between 12,000 and 15,000 people marched on February 15,
in one of the biggest demonstrations ever held here. It took more than
40 minutes for the marchers to travel the 500-metre route. Protesters,
from age two to 92, had written anti-war and peace statements on their
t-shirts and on their arms and face.

People carried streamers and self-made placards including a set made
out of Green Left Weekly’s anti-war covers. Groups of young
friends joined hands, shouting their own chants and songs. People danced
the anti-war hokey-pokey. It was an emotional rally. One marcher said that
he saw a veteran of the Vietnam War crying.

Most speakers expressed their anger at Prime Minister John Howard’s
decision to support the US. Greens Senator Bob Brown quoted Howard’s words
following the Port Arthur Massacre: “violence is never the answer”. “Act
on your words, Mr Howard”, Brown said.

Anthea Stutter, from the newly formed feminist group Women For Action,
and a Socialist Alliance member, described the violence and poverty that
women suffer in war. She urged everyone to protest against war “loud and
proud” on International Women’s Day, March 8. Her call for “no war on Iraq”,
even if war was backed by a UN resolution, was received with a roar from
the crowd.

Environmentalist and Gardening Australia presenter Peter Cundall
urged people to come back marching again and again until we win. He said:
“We need to go one step better than [protesters against the Vietnam War]
and stop this war before it begins.”

In Launceston, 3000 people marched, despite police refusing
to issue a permit. There was a strong union presence, including the Construction,
Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Education Union and the
meatworkers’ union. After Clare Jansen, from Students For Peace, announced
the March 5 student strike, a member of the AEU announced that teachers
should strike too, which was very well supported. Popular chants were “Give
peace a chance!” and “No war on Iraq!”.

One hundred defyed a police ban to march in St Helens, which
has a population of 2000. The march was led by the Aboriginal social justice
bus. People heard from Tom Ryan from Amnesty International and Barry Hicks
from the Socialist Alliance.

After only four days planning, 50 people of all ages marched in Strahan,
which has a population of 750. One of the speakers pointed out that “this
war is against ordinary people just like us, who are victims of this government.”
Leaflets were distributed to encourage people to contact talk-back
radio and get their trade unions and councils to pass anti-war resolutions.

There was also a rally in Devonport.

From Green Left Weekly, February 19, 2003.

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From GLW issue 526