BY JIM MCILROY
BRISBANE Two-thousand people gathered in the Roma Street Forum on November 3 for a lively rally opposing any war on Iraq.
Demonstrators came from far and wide, from Ipswich to the Gold and Sunshine coasts. The protest rally and march was organised by the Brisbane Stop the War Coalition (BSTWC), and endorsed by a broad range of groups, from unions to the Ethnic Communities Council, to political organisations such as the Greens, Socialist Alliance, and some ALP MPs, and various peace and community groups.
Speakers at the Roma Street Forum included Queensland Council of Unions secretary Grace Grace, Imam of Brisbane Yusef Peer, Greens representative Drew Hutton, Labor Senator Claire Moore, participants in the recent protest at the US spy base at Pine Gap and Queensland University of Technology lecturer Ross Daniels.
Daniels drew loud applause from the crowd by denouncing any military attack on Iraq, whether unilaterally by the US or under UN auspices, and calling for a clear statement of opposition from the ALP.
The protesters then marched through city streets, stopping outside the local headquarters of US aerospace giant Boeing. Blocking the intersection, the crowd listened to speakers thunder against Boeing's role as an arms manufacturer whose jet fighters rain death and destruction on the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories.
Hashem Kleibo from the Palestinian community pointed out the hypocrisy of the US preparing to invade Iraq when Israel has repeatedly violated UN resolutions calling for it to withdraw from the Occupied Territories. BSTWC representative Adrian Skerritt gave a rousing speech, telling the crowd that it was a Boeing bomber that dropped the first atomic bomb used in war, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima in August 1945.
The march ended under the shade of the big trees in Centennial Place to hear a final platform of speakers, including Melissa White from the Socialist Alliance.
[Australians] understand that a military strike against Iraq will do nothing to stop terrorist attacks such as the tragic Bali bombing, but will only escalate the vicious spiral of war and retaliation, BSTWC spokesperson Marcel Cameron told the Courier Mail.
Following the rally, an umbrella coalition of peace groups has been established under the name Queensland Peace Network. Its first activity is to sponsor a 5.30pm candlelight gathering in King George Square as part of the national day of action on December 1.
To get involved, contact the BSTWC e-list: <peace-bris-subscribe@yahoo.com> or phone (07) 3831 2644 or (07) 3255 1465.
From Green Left Weekly, November 13, 2002.
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