From: hde_tollenaere <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Sun, 18 Nov 2001 22:10:47 +0100 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Fw: 100,000 in London march against the war 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:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[EMAIL PROTECTED] 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 [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ends _________________________________________________ KOMINFORM P.O. Box 66 00841 Helsinki Phone +358-40-7177941 Fax +358-9-7591081 http://www.kominf.pp.fi General class struggle news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe mails to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Geopolitical news: [EMAIL PROTECTED] subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________
