Peace activists plot campaign for the day war starts
By Terry Kirby, Chief Reporter
17 March 2003
As the generals made their final preparations at the weekend for the outbreak of war, the peace movement also put the final touches to its campaign. When the now apparently inevitable attack on Iraq begins, it will be the signal for a wholly different kind of assault on American interests in Britain and around the world.
In Britain, the Stop the War Coalition is calling for a campaign of "direct action and peaceful civil disobedience" the day war starts. It is urging people to stage walkouts, organise mass meetings and occupy town centres or hold sit-ins at schools, colleges and universities. Schoolchildren are being encouraged to take part in walkouts or sit-ins and to lobby their teachers to allow debates in classes.
At 6pm on the evening of the day of the first attack, whenever it falls, the Coalition plans mass occupations of city centres. In London, the protesters will occupy Parliament Square with the intention of bringing the centre of government to a halt. The American embassy in Grosvenor Square is also likely to be the scene of protests, as will its counterparts in cities around the world.
The US base at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, from which B-52 bombers are expected to begin the air bombardment of Iraq, is likely to be in the forefront of protests. Some militant peace campaigners, who have been camped outside the gates for weeks, might try to breach the razor-wire-topped fences. Some who have done so have been immediately arrested. One said last week: "When the war starts, we're going over the top. We're going on to the runway and will stay there until the dogs get us. Or the planes.''
The movement has planned that the first Saturday after the outbreak of war will see the biggest street demonstrations since those of 15 February, when a million people took to the streets of London alone. Even if the diplomatic wrangling continues and hostilities do not start this week, there are still plans for protests outside all American bases in Britain on Saturday. The theme is "Foil the Bases'' and protesters are being encouraged to bring along all types of foil in the hope that an accumulation of it will disrupt communications at the bases.
Since the massive protests of a month ago, the anti-war movement has continued its efforts through meetings and lobbying as well as some smaller, locally based street protests last weekend, one-off concerts and other events, such as the People's Assembly meeting in London last week. Children have also become involved and thousands have staged sporadic walkouts from their classes; at a school in Birmingham, one was led by Jacob Hunt Stewart, the son of the Health minister Lord Hunt of Kings Heath. Pupils met in London yesterday to plan the next stage of their campaign, which includes more walkouts this Wednesday.
Artists of all kinds have continued their opposition. Low- key anti-war protests were made at the Grammys – Sheryl Crow had "No War" on her guitar strap – and at the Baftas. On Saturday night, a concert entitled "One Big No" was staged at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London, featuring Paul Weller, Ronan Keating and Garbage. Next Monday, a Concert for Peace will be staged at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane; among those pledged to make contributions are Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Judi Dench and Sir Alan Ayckbourn.
Alistair Alexander, a spokesman for the Coalition, said the focus had shifted. "We are now planning the campaign of direct action and civil disobedience that will follow the outbreak of war. We do not see this as an admission of the failure of our campaign against the conflict. In fact, our campaign has broadened and increased the strength of feeling.''
In what may well turn out to be the last demonstrations before the war breaks out, tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Washington on Saturday to protest. Some carried signs saying "Stop Mad Cowboy Disease'' as they marched from the Washington memorial to the White House, although President George Bush was at Camp David. Thousands of Americans also marched in other big cities, such as Boston, Atlanta and San Francisco. The Central Command base at Tampa, Florida, from which the war will be run, was also picketed.
In Europe, protests were held in Spain where hundreds of thousands took to the streets in dozens of cities – many Spanish citizens are deeply unhappy at the involvement of Jose Maria Aznar, their Prime Minister, in yesterday's Azores summit – while substantial rallies were also staged in Milan, Brussels, Copenhagen and Bucharest.
Yesterday also saw some of the biggest protests in Australia by those unhappy at the hardline stance of John Howard, the Prime Minister. The protests attracted hundreds of thousands of people and included family picnics and candlelit vigils, including one at sunset on Bondi Beach, Sydney. Mr Howard was picketed by noisy groups of protesters. Demonstrations were also held in several cities in New Zealand.
In Buenos Aires, 10,000 lobbied the United States embassy in a peaceful protest; elsewhere in Latin America smaller demonstrations were staged in Mexico City, Guat-emala and El Salvador.
Plans for protest
DAY WAR BREAKS OUT: Stop if They Start. A nationwide campaign of direct action and civil disobedience. Everyone opposed to war is urged to stop work, leave classes and take part in some kind of protest walkouts, meetings, occupations and demonstrations. Expect noisy protests and sit-ins in Parliament Square, at the gates of Downing Street, outside the US embassy and at US bases, where attempts will be made to scale fences. Rallies planned in most cities around the country. Similar events expected around the world.
WEDNESDAY, 19 MARCH: Thousands of schoolchildren are expected to join a second day of mass walkouts and sit-ins.
SATURDAY, 22 MARCH: Foil the Bases. Mass protests at sites such as RAF Fairford, in Gloucestershire and RAF Fylingdales in Yorkshire. Protesters aim to bring as much tin foil as possible in the hope of disrupting communications systems.
SATURDAY AFTER WAR BEGINS: Demonstrators will gather at Embankment station at noon and make their way to Hyde Park.
DAILY: Protest groups in cities throughout the country are holding afternoon or evening peace vigils, which are likely to swell in numbers as the prospect of conflict grows. The Stop the War Coalition website (www.stopwar.org.uk) has details.
17 March 2003 17:26
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