[Peace] Fw: 100,000 in London march against the war (fwd)

[Predrag Tosic]

LAWYERS AGAINST THE WAR

Dear All,
See the report below on today's fantastic turnout. Thanks to everyone for
coming.

Stop the War Coalition (StW)
PO Box 3739, London E5 8EJ
07951  235 915
<mailto:office at stopwar.org.uk>office at stopwar.org.uk
http://www.stopwar.org.uk
<http://www.mwaw.org>http://www.mwaw.org
NEWS RELEASE:  Sunday 18 November 2001
MEDIA CONTACTS: Lindsey German 07810 540584 and Andrew Murray 07773 764455.

*  London anti-war protest - 100,000 march against war in Afghanistan

Some 100,000 anti-war protesters marched in London today, doubling last
month's turn-out of 50,000, indicating the full depth of opposition to the
war in the UK. Trade unionists, Muslim organisations, community groups,
anti-racists, human rights activists, anti-globalisation activists,
students and MPs heard a wide range of speakers condemn the US-led military
action in Afghanistan.

Protesters came by the coach-load from across the UK, including Newcastle,
Manchester, Plymouth, and the Foreign Secretary's own constituency of
Blackburn. Forty coaches came from Birmingham. As the head of the march
reached Trafalgar Square, the tail was still leaving Hyde Park.

"After today's demonstration, no-one can doubt both the scale and the
diversity of anti-war feeling in this country,"  said Suresh Grover of the
National Civil Rights Movement and Stop the War steering committee. "This
is a ground-breaking event which has coalesced into a massive operation
against the military action.

"This protest is also against the attack on human rights in Britain. The
government is slipping in the suspension of habeas corpus and the
introduction of internment and detention without trial. We are also seeing
a proliferation of racist assaults.

"This  huge turn-out represents the tip of the ice-berg of disquiet running
throughout British society. Despite the efforts of some section of the
media, we've doubled our numbers in a month. The message of the
demonstration is that we are not going away. This movement will only get
bigger."

Speakers included: John Pilger; Bianca Jagger; Tony Benn; Tariq Ali; Yvonne
Ridley; New York City trade unionist Michael Letwin; Tennessee-born Dr
Jonathan Farley; MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Paul Marsden, Alan Simpson, George
Galloway, and Adam Price of Plaid Cymru;  Asad Rehman (Newham Monitoring
Project); Germaine Greer; George Monbiot; Morning Star editor John Haylett;
human rights lawyer Louise Christian; Weyman Bennett; Suresh Grover; Paul
Mackney (NATFHE  personal capacity); Bernard Regan (NUT personal capacity).

Notes:

1)  ORGANISERS. The march is organised by the Stop the War Coalition and is
supported by a wide range of peace and political organisations, community
groups, trades unions and individuals (including CND, Labour MPs, RMT,
ASLEF, the Muslim Parliament, the National Civil Rights Movement, the
Newham Monitoring Project, the London Council of Mosques, Labour Against
the War, Media Workers Against the War, Lawyers Against the War, and
Artists Against the War).
2)  IFTAR. In Trafalgar Square, at 4:10pm, demonstrators will be invited to
join in iftar (fast-breaking), in solidarity with people suffering in
Afghanistan.  A speaker will explain the meaning of fast-breaking during
Ramadan.  There will also be prayer facilities for Muslims attending the march.

3)  MEDIA CONTACTS. Andrew Murray (chair, Stop the War Coalition steering
committee) on 07773 764455 or Lindsey German (convenor, Stop the War
Coalition steering committee) on 07810 540584.

4) Other upcoming events:

* Media Workers Against the War
http://www.mwaw.org

Monday, 19 November Public meeting:
Unheard voices:opposition to the war in the USA with Michael Letwin,
representing New York City Labor Against the War.

7:30pm, Monday, 19 November
University of London Union, Malet Street, London WC1

Against a backdrop of monolithic pro-war media coverage, an anti-war
movement has taken shape in the United States. Michael Letwin, of NYC Labor
Against the War, will report from 'ground zero' on dissent in the USA. As a
New Yorker and a public sector trades unionist, he will explain why he
rejects the war being made in his name, and its impact on civil liberties,
racism and the media.

Michael Letwin is in London as a representative of NYC LAW, a coalition of
New York area trades unionists campaigning against the US-led war in
Afghanistan. [See www.mwaw.org for more details]. He is also the elected
president of the UAW local representing legal aid attorneys in New York,
although he is not visiting London in that capacity. Plenty of time for
questions from the floor. Contact Dave Crouch 07801 789297

* SPECIAL MEETING OF TRADE-UNIONISTS AGAINST THE WAR

The movement against the war in US unions - the impact of the war on US
working people - with special guest speaker from New York City Labor
Against the War

Tuesday 20 November, 7.30pm
Exmouth Arms pub, Starcross Street, London NW1
(off Drummond Street), Euston and Euston Square tubes.
Speaker: Michael Letwin, representing New York City Labor Against the War
(and in a personal capacity president of UAW local representing legal aid
attorneys). Michael Letwin is attending the demonstration on Sunday and
speaking at Trafalgar Square. This will be an opportunity for trade-union
activists in London to hear at greater length a report on the campaign
against the war in the USA, and on the impact of the war on US workers and
trades unions. For Trades Unionists Against the War please contact: Fred
LePlat, at  f.leplat at unisonfree.net

- ends