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19 January 2003
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/2672809.stm |
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A day of worldwide protests against a looming US-led war on Iraq has culminated in giant peace rallies in Washington, San Francisco and other US cities. More than 50,000 Americans converged on the National Mall in the centre of Washington, in one of the biggest protests since the build-up for war began. The most popular chant was "No War For Oil". The crowds carried placards saying "Regime Change Starts at Home" and "Would Jesus Bomb Them?" In San Francisco, a group of nude women called for President George W Bush to rein in his "naked aggression" against Iraq. Anti-war demonstrations spanned the world on Saturday, including rallies in Japan, Pakistan, Syria, Egypt, Russia, France, Britain, Argentina and Mexico. Pressure on Baghdad But the momentum towards war continues to grow. The UN chief weapons inspector, Hans Blix, complained on Saturday that Iraq was still not giving his team "genuine co-operation" as they searched for weapons of mass destruction. And it has emerged that UN arms experts have found 3,000 undisclosed documents apparently relating to nuclear weapons technology in an Iraqi scientist's home. US opinion polls show that most Americans still back President George Bush, our Washington correspondent says. But many of them say Mr Bush has not yet made a convincing case for war against Iraq. The US and its main ally Britain are sending tens of thousands of troops to the Gulf, and putting others on standby. 'Pre-emptive movement'
The activists at the Washington rally included the Reverend Jesse Jackson and Reverend Al Sharpton.
As many as 50,000 people are expected to attend a peace rally in San Francisco, including actor Martin Sheen.
US protest organisers want to generate the kind of opposition that was expressed against the Vietnam War 30 years ago.
One of them, Washington lawyer Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, said: "Bush has said he intends to launch a pre-emptive war, and now he's facing the most formidable
obstacle, which is a pre-emptive anti-war movement".
In San Francisco, environmental and trade union activists, Hollywood stars, anarchists and military veterans marched to show opposition to military action against
Iraq.
"I'm hoping that the bus loads of people coming as far away as Oregon and Nevada give an indication that this isn't just the crazy loons in San Francisco - but we
reflect the opinions of the entire United States," said Tim Kingston of the anti-war group Global Exchange.
Elsewhere, much anger was aimed at the US itself.
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19 January 2003
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http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/2003/Jan/19/ln/ln05a.html |
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Throughout the afternoon yesterday a steady stream of protesters streamed to Ala Moana Park to join with others around the nation and world in showing their opposition to a war with Iraq.
The protesters were a diverse lot — young and old, residents and visitors. There were protest signs galore, peace songs, anti-war leaflets and speeches on the
immorality of war and the loss of personal freedoms. On the eve of the holiday honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Honolulu attorney and longtime political activist Eric Seitz asked the crowd to remember King's ideals. "I suggest that we celebrate this birthday of Martin Luther King by rededicating ourselves to the same battles that he attempted to fight, and for which he lived
and died," Seitz said. Seitz, along with others, called yesterday's rallies a "new anti-war movement," similar to the Vietnam War protests that split the nation in the 1960s. While many said they had been part of that movement, for others, such as Punahou sophomore Isabella Hughes, 16, the experience was new. "I'm here because I think it's very important for young people to be politically aware," said Hughes, who carried a "No War!" placard and said she
called 103 of her friends urging them to attend the rally. "In two years I'm going to be voting, and I don't want to just be a Democrat or Republican — I want to
know what I stand for. "Americans are so smart, if we put our minds to it, we could think of alternatives other than going to war." Carolyn Hadfield, 60, an event organizer, said the purpose of the rally was to wake up those who oppose a war with Iraq but have been hesitant to say so. "We know from working in the community that there are thousands of people who hate what's happening," said Hadfield. "But they've been silent because
they don't know that other people feel the same way. We want that silence to be broken. We want all of those people to be comfortable stepping out in their workplace, in
their schools, in their homes, in their churches and speaking out against this war in a strong and determined way." Army veteran Robert Stiver, 59, of Pearl City, said he was there because, "I love my country, but I feel my government is going the wrong way." Stiver, who attended the event with the local chapter of the national Cities For Peace movement, said his group wants the Honolulu City Council to draft a resolution
to President Bush "saying we want him to go very slow on any thought of war with Iraq because we fear the same devastating economic impact on Hawai'i as we had after
the first Gulf war." After the rally, the protesters marched together through the park and onto Ala Moana Boulevard, continued on to Ward Avenue, then circled their way back to the park,
where they gathered for an early evening concert. |
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