30-40,000 March In London
Besides San Diego, antiwar protests were held across the country, in Canada and in Europe. In rallies and marches, thousands came out in protest of the 5th anniversary of the start of the war and occupation in Iraq.
Some early reports of attendance have come in. In Hollywood, police estimated 2000 marched through the community, while organizers placed the figure higher at 10,000. Other U.S. cities that had antiwar events today were Eureka, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Austin and Galveston in Texas; and Portland, Oregon. In Tacoma, Washington, antiwar protesters squared off against pro-war counter-demonstrators at a local mall. The Winter Soldier events in Washington, D.C., took precedence in the Capitol, so no large demos were held.
There were demonstrations in 20 cities in Canada as citizens were protesting their government’s involvement in Afghanistan. 1,000 people rallied in Toronto and 500 did so in Ottawa.
The largest demonstration was held in London, where estimates of 30,000 to 40,000 people marched and rallied in Trafalgar Square. Several thousand also protested in Glasgow, Scotland. Hundreds of people rallied in Stockholm and another city in Sweden, and in Norway and Denmark.
More demonstrations in this country are planned for March 19th. San Francisco, Chicago and New Haven, Connecticut have plans for peace events. Civil disobedience is planned for Washington, D.C. as well. Chattanooga, Tennessee will sponsor an antiwar rally on March 22nd.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
40,000 marching in London in the 60’s would have made the evening news. Sadly today with the government in control of all major media, the anti-war movement gets scant coverage.
First off we should not call it a anti war march. This not a WAR this is a criminal act by the ruling party of the USA and England. There is not a single justification for Iraq or the Afghan crusades. All parties responsible should be put on trial for crimes against innocent humans.
It’s strange that you say that there were 30 – 40, 000 at the anti war march, the organisers said (more than once) that they estimated 50, 000!
I’m totally gobsmacked at the lack of coverage of this huge protest, although I shouldn’t be surprised in this ridiculously controlled country we now live in!!!
Miranda – I found the numbers right out of news reports of the London protest. Reuters reported: “Organisers estimated that the London march had attracted up to 40,000 protesters.” Here is the link to the article.
Thanks Frank, but I was ACTUALLY there as a protester and not a member of the media & we were TWICE told that there was estimated to be 50, 000 protesters!
Miranda – that is so cool! You probably know as well as I that mainstream news reporters and police consistently underestimate the numbers of protesters. For example, I stood on a corner at our local demo this past Saturday, and literally counted heads – people at the march; there were 650 and then another 100 to 200 were at the rally in addition. But our local newspaper, very conservative, put the overall number at 500.
But there is ongoing news suppression in this country. Our local paper – the only daily for the 7th largest city in the U.S. – DID NOT HAVE ONE WORD of the London protest, whether it was 30,000 or 40,000 or 50,000. But we were told about a terrorist attack in Pakistan that killed 1 European. The mainstream media, in lockstep with Bush, want to keep us afraid, very afraid, and do not want word of protests to reach the majority of Americans, who don’t even know how many of their countrymen and women have been killed in Iraq.
You’re so right Frank, I shouldn’t be surprised by the under-reporting and the censorship… Although it never fails to make me angry! I’ll continue to be angry and protest, until those responsible (US & UK governments & their helpers) are brought to justice (whatever that word means these days!!!?)