United in the name of peace; America wakes up to the imminent threat

The US America found its voice of protest yesterday as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Washington, San Francisco and many state capitals to denounce the prospect of war with Iraq.

US organisers, International Answer (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), claimed yesterday they would create "a new generation of anti-war protesters". Activist Peta Lindsay promised: "This is just the beginning. We will stop this war."

Others spoke of the non-violent legacy of Martin Luther King - this weekend marks the civil rights leader's birthday.

"Mr Bush hung Dr King's picture up in the White House last year, but he needs to hang up Dr King's words," said the Rev Al Sharpton, a Democrat presidential candidate.

Fleets of buses arrived in the US capital with banners proclaiming "Regime change starts at home". Famous faces among the crowds, including the actress Jessica Lange, and the Rev Jesse Jackson, urged action against a new US war.

Vietnam veteran Ron Kovic, whose story featured in the film Born On The Fourth Of July, told demonstrators they were "born to reclaim this country".

With the Bush administration massing troops and equipment in the Gulf, and Baghdad declaring itself mobilised for battle, the message from demos across the world was that if there is war, the politicians will not have it easy.

"A lot of people have been silenced for a long time, but that is ending," said actor Martin Sheen, whose West Wing aura carries into his activism. The mood in the US is swinging away from the blanket support that bolstered President George Bush post-September 11. The nascent American peace movement now embraces anti-militarists on the left and, increasingly, suburban mums, black activists and the low- paid worried about job security.

Among the protesters gathered in Washington were a group of parents of soldiers currently being deployed in the Gulf. For them the drive for war has been too much.

For others, the protest was aimed at Bush and the assumptions they believe he is making about middle and middle-aged America.

Stephen Zunes, of the University of San Francisco, said that anti- war activities in US communities and campuses were "greater than after two or three years of heavy fighting in Vietnam".

In San Francisco, a group of nude women demanded that the Bush Administration restrain what they called its "naked aggression" toward Iraq. Tens of thousands demonstrated in the city - a diverse collection of teenagers, retirees, seasoned activists and first-time protesters. Aris Cisneros, 38, who brought his two young children, said: "I want Bush to see that his people are against the war. I want to show my children that they can stand up to stupidity."

The Bush administration faces the biggest peace movement since the Vietnam War. Gulf veterans joined the Washington demo, concerned about the effects of chemical and biological weapons on servicemen.

The former soldiers hope to replicate the success of the Vietnam Veterans Against the War in the l960s, who were a crucial part in galvanising the anti-war coalition that helped end US involvement.

The organisations are new and small. But they could bring a fresh element to the anti-war movement. If they sway US troops, that could be a worry for the Pentagon.

Briggs Seakins, from Maine, served as an infantryman with the 3rd Armoured Division in the 1991 Gulf war. He said his anti-war stance arose from that experience. Having seen the refugees and the frightened Iraqi conscripts, he said he would not take part in war again.

The anti-war drive hit US TV screens last night with an advert replicating a 1964 Democrat presidential commercial. The ad, financed by 10,000 members of the internet group MoveOn.org, shows a little girl in a meadow. She picks petals off a flower, with the screen peeling back to show an Iraqi war spinning out of control with burning oil wells, wounded troops and crowds of angry civilians. The last scene is the mushroom cloud of a nuclear blast.

"Americans ought to understand the full ramifications of war with Iraq," said Wes Boyd, the MoveOn.org president. "Our message is simple.

"The world community wants to see the inspections process work, and some of our closest allies are questioning the push for war."

The UK About 200 people protested outside the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the British Armed Forces in Northwood, London, as part of the worldwide demonstrations against a possible war with Iraq.

The army base is the command post for British rapid deployment forces, and would play a key role in directing British forces in the event of an attack on Iraq.

Last night a vigil was due to be held in London, with former Labour MP Tony Benn delivering the key speech. Earlier he warned there was "massive" opposition across Britain to the prospect of war.

"President Bush and Mr Blair are planning to tear up the Charter of the United Nations, to make a war which would be a regressive war, to kill people which would be a war crime, and to do it in way which would endanger world peace over a long period," said Benn.

Protests also took place in Cardiff, Liverpool and Bradford. In Liverpool an estimated 2500 people attended a march that included trade unionists, pro-Palestine groups and a republican Irish marching band.

Sheila Walsh, of the Liverpool Friends of Palestine, said: "This is a very strong turnout which demonstrates the strength of feeling against this war we are being dragged into.

"There will be a bigger demonstration in London next month but this gives people who might not be able to travel there a chance to show their feelings."

Police said at least 2000 people attended an anti-war protest in Bradford. Neil Kingsnorth, development worker for Yorkshire CND said: "We want to say to the government: 'Don't attack Iraq'. It is completely unjust, based on lies, rhetoric and spin. It has nothing to do with peace, security or weapons of mass destruction. It is all to do with oil."

The Bishop of Bradford, the Right Reverend David James, said all the churches in the country overwhelmingly want peace for Iraq.

"We want to give expression to that desire, we are saying 'give peace a chance'."

Up to 1500 people marched through Cardiff's city centre. At the rally outside the City Hall demonstrators were addressed by Welsh Assembly members and the national convener of the Stop The War Coalition, among others.

Labour Assembly member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Richard Edwards, told demonstrators: "People are here to protest against a totally unjustified war which will result in the suffering of innocent people in Iraq."

The Middle East In Beirut, thousands of demonstrators carrying Palestinian and Iraqi flags chanted: "Sign your name on a suicide attack on US interests, so we can fight an American attack along with Iraq."

Glasgow MP George Galloway, who joined the march, said: "A peaceful solution must be found, or we're all going over the cliff in the Middle East."

Tens of thousands of Syrians marched through Damascus. About 1000 demonstrators in central Cairo called for the closure of the Suez Canal to US and British warships.

On Friday, 3500 Palestinians marched in support of Saddam in Gaza City. Some chanted "Our beloved Saddam, strike Tel Aviv" - a slogan from the 1991 Gulf war.

More than 1500 protesters marched in the Bahraini capital of Manama, home to the US 5th fleet, calling for the expulsion of US forces.

ANTI-WAR IN THE UK January 18-19: Non-violent demo and blockade at Northwood British Military Base, London.

January 19: Anti-war film showing at The Camden Centre, London. Speakers to include Peter Brook, Tony Benn and Glenda Jackson.

January 21: Rally by Stop the War Coalition, CND and No War on Iraq Liaison, 2.30pm, Westminster.

January 26: Non-violent action at Fairford airbase, Gloucestershire.

January 27: Debate at West Herts College, Watford. Speakers to include George Galloway. January 31: Rally in Reigate Park United Reformed Church, Reigate.

February 1: Labour CND conference, Conway Hall, London.

February 3: Non-violent action at Lakenheath airbase, Suffolk.

February 12: Public Meeting in Ilford Town Hall.

February 14: Make Love Not War day in London.

February 15: National Anti War demo in Hyde Park, London.

February 15: March and rally in Glasgow to coincide with Blair visit. Assemble at 11am in George Square, march at noon to the SECC at 1.30pm, with the rally at 2.30pm.

WHAT THE POLLS SAY

UK: 56% thought British forces would be involved in conflict against Iraq, according to an ICM poll for the News of the World. 75% believed Saddam Hussein had developed nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

FRANCE: 82% against war and 13% for war without UN sanction, says a survey for L'Humanite.

GERMANY: 76% against a UN-backed war and 75% in favour of him Saddam being deposed.

SPAIN: 64% against war.

ITALY: A survey for La Republica last week found 61% were against a war, with 30% in favour and 9% undecided.

AROUND THE WORLD JAPAN: Carrying toy guns filled with flowers and waving banners, about 5000 anti-war demonstrators kicked off worldwide protests, marching through downtown Tokyo.

Tomoharu Yamauchi, 45, said: "I hope that President Bush, who is acting like a cowboy, will recognise that an era of western films is over."

Hong Kong: About 60 people shouted "Inspections, yes! War, no!" and "Yankee, go home!" as they marched through the financial district to the US and British consulates.

Pakistan: In Islamabad, protesters formed a human chain that stretched for six miles. Several hundred people tried to march on the US consulate in Lahore, but Pakistani authorities held them back.

New Zealand: In Christchurch, Green party legislator Keith Locke told some 400 demonstrators that "pressure from around the world can halt the war".

Moscow: The Russian Communist party marched on the US Embassy in Moscow, carrying banners with slogans such as "US, hands off Iraq!"

Ireland: "There's been too much capital invested in this war for it not to happen. But we're making our position clear, we're saying 'no'," said Adam Conway, 24, an activist at a peace camp near Shannon Airport in Ireland, protesting over the use of Shannon to refuel US military planes.

Mainland Europe: German demonstrators gathered in front of the European headquarters of the US army in Heidelberg. In France, where President Jacques Chirac said a unilateral attack by Washington on Iraq would violate international law, protests were held in Paris and several provincial cities.

Copyright 2003 SMG Sunday Newspapers Ltd.
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