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AP (with additional material by BBC). 28 September 2002. More than 50,000 march through London to protest Iraq invasion. LONDON -- More than 50,000 protesters marched through central London Saturday to urge Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. President George W. Bush not to go to war with Iraq. March leaders used bullhorns to shout through the gates of Blair's 10 Downing St. residence as they headed from Embankment on the River Thames toward Hyde Park. "Don't be bullied by Bush," read one placard. "No war for oil. Stop the war machine," said another. Streams of people poured out of Underground stations near the march's starting point and demonstrators at the back of the march were still setting off from Embankment after those at the front had reached Hyde Park, more than a mile (1.6 kms) away. Scotland Yard said it was still working on a crowd estimate but that there were more than 50,000 demonstrators. Andrew Burgin, of the Stop the War Coalition, which helped organize the march, said there were 250,000 people and added that the crowd was still growing. "We are sleepwalking to disaster," Tam Dalyell, who holds the title father of the House of Commons, told the demonstrators in Hyde Park. He said the confrontation with Iraq was the most dangerous standoff since the Cuban missile crisis. Legislators from Blair's own Labor Party are among the leaders of the Stop the War Coalition, which organized the march with the Muslim Association of Britain to rally those who believe any war would kill innocents and cause global political and economic instability. Tony Benn, a former Labor Party legislator and veteran left-winger, urged protesters to do everything they could to stop "a war that would involve criminal loss of life of innocent people. ... We must see it is not allowed to happen." Benn told the crowds: "Nothing can take the British people into a war that they do not accept and do not want." He said it would be "wholly immoral" for the US and Britain to attack Iraq. "Although when the bloodshed begins if it does criminal responsibility for what has happened will rest with those who have taken that decision there is a share of responsibility with us as well." Anas Al Tikriti, of the Muslim Association of Britain, said: "Maybe for the very first time that all sectors of society... have come together because they feel extremely concerned about the way our government has been conducting itself in regards with the issues of Palestine and Iraq," he said. And he said that the march, which comes on the eve of the start of the Labour Party Conference, sent a clear message to Mr Blair and his Cabinet. "Our government is acting in an unethical manner. This has to change," he said. Film director Ken Loach was among the demonstrators on Saturday. He said: "We can't get involved in this war we can't consider murdering another 100,000 Iraqis simply to pursue America's interest in oil and their dominance in the region." Among those scheduled to speak at the rally were London Mayor Ken Livingstone and former United Nations weapons inspector Scott Ritter. There were many families in the crowd, which included people pushing small children in strollers and protesters of all ages and social backgrounds. "Iraq is not our enemy, stop Bush," said a homemade banner carried by Irial Eno, 12, who attended the rally with her sister, mother and grandmother. "Iraq has already had lots of trouble," she said. "I just don't think that Bush should bomb them. So many people will die just for one man," she said, adding that it was not right to kill innocent Iraqi people to topple their leader Saddam Hussein. "There must be some other way," said her mother, Anthea Eno. "People are going to suffer, as always." "People are out on the streets to show that not all Britons feel the same as Tony Blair," said protester Zoolfikar Beig. "We don't want any enemies." The march was also meant as a protest of Israel's policies in the West Bank and Gaza, and many protesters expressed sympathy for the Palestinian cause. "Stop Israeli war crimes," said one sign. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ProletarianNews http://www.utopia2000.org --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: archive@jab.org EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.bacIlu Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
