Report on your march here - how was it?

[MJM]

I've just got home from the peace march here in Auckland NZ. It was the biggest march I've been on. According to information I've had prior to today and from the announcement of the numbers it would be one of the biggest marches in the history of NZ.

I marched with the anti capitalist alliance that comrades Behind Enemy Lines and NZ Revolution are involved with, different cities however so I wasn't with them.

Word on the street wasn't too good leading up to the day, I was expecting about 1,500-2,000 people. The weather was really good and there was another event on around the same area, so I think it helped to get the numbers up.
10,000.
It may not seem like much to some of you but it's 1% of the cities population and it's NZ, where people just don't do anything like this.

I'm really happy about the whole thing and hope it goes this well all around the world.

Incidentally it's the second protest that has had a large turnout in the last six months, usually big marches happen only every ten years or so!
Two in six months is really exciting.

[Mahdavikia]

In my small french town (Le Puy en velay), there are 2000 people in the street to protest against the war in Irak. It's about 10% of the city's population. So, it seems to be a success and i hope it will be a success in all the world!!!! http://amg.sytes.net/panneaux/pano39910.png

[mentalbunny]

I went to London, along with approximatly three quaters of a million other people, and I marched with my mum. We started walking at about 12 o-clock and reached Hyde Park at about 4:30, too late to hear any of the people we wanted to hear but never mind. During the march me and my mum met some people we knew which was pretty cool, but post of the time we ambled along by ourselves, reading banners. We spent the first 2 hours with the lib-dems because my mum feels safer with them, but I got a bit bored so we weent of by ourselves, cos my mum wouldn't let me gop on my own, she was scared about both of us as it was her first time marching as well as mine!

Anyway, it was really cool but people are so reluctant to chant! I got a few going but they petered out pretty quick. :sad:

[Red Liberation]

I went to the london one with some mates, we sat on top of a bus stop and shouted for about an hour before realizing our hands were fallin off due to the cold. Carrying on with the rally we wnt along with some socialists and when we got to hyde park we got to hear this communist followed by Ken Livingstone and this American bastard who liked the sound of his own voice too much.

Apparently more than 2 MILLION people were there, which makes it the biggest demonstration the world has seen!!!

(Edited by Red Liberation at 9:11 pm on Feb. 15, 2003)

[BOZG]

100,000 people in Dublin and the expectations for the day were only 10,000. Absolutely amazing. The biggest protest since 1979 in this country and probably the 2nd biggest protests that this country has ever seen.

[canikickit]

It was fantastic, one of the best days in the history of humanity. I loved every minute of it.

We had a nice bit of chanting on the way up to the Department of Foreign Affairs ("1,2,3,4 We don't want your bloody war! 5,6,7,8 this is not a US state!" & "Bush, Bush, we know you, your daddy was a killer too!"). Then a nice sing song with some Irish singer whose name I forget, she sang "Redemption Song" and "Masters of War"), then some Kurdish guy made a speech while some lady on heroin shouted at him.

Then down to Dame Street for more singing from more people whose names I also forget. Then that guy, I forget his name (Irish UN weapons inspector type person?) made a speech which caused me too make an ass of myself by shouting "No!" when it should have been "Yes!" (it was his fault). Then Shane McGowan came and sang a song. I wasn't hallucinating. Then he said "Fuck the Brits" (I think he also said "Fuck the US"). Followed by some absolutely fantastic music which I loved.


I think I had better write more later.

[timbaly]

I was in the march in New york city. It was humongus, only 100,000 people were expected because it was supposed to snow. But it didn't and 1 million people showed up. There were many amusing chants and many different anti-war signs just about every sign included the word "oil". The police closed of 1st ave, which is where the UN hq is, but there were so many people on 2nd and third. I heard that 3rd ave was filled with protesters from 49th st to 86th.


But as always the NYPD decided that they had to escalate the situation by using crowd control when it wasn't nessacary ( that is unless you think flowing traffic is more important than the first amendment which allows the right to assemble). cops were chasing protesters and I almost got knocked down by a cop in pursuit. it got hectic when the cops blockaded the streets to stop the protesters from 3rd and 2nd ave to come together. so people decided to climb over police trucks in order to unite with the crowd on 2nd ave. so the cops went in with there night sticks and chased people off and brought in horses to close in on the crowd from all directions so the could remove the trucks. This was because the trucks were filled with barricades which the protesters were using them to blockade the cops from stopping them to get to 2nd ave. Than the cops thought it would be smart to remove the handles from the protesters signs, because those things are "weapons". so people resisted and things got a little hectic. than the cops decided to make everyone walk and the sidewalk so traffic could move. So they used horses to close in on people and force them on the sidewalk. Of course they were being unrealistic because there was no way a million people were going to fit on the sidewalk so they eventually caved in and let the people go to second ave.

I got lots more to right, but I'll do it later.

[Tasha]

asdfasdf

[kylie]

the police at london were pretty cool, a lot better than i thought they'd be. most of the time they were just talking to the protesters or giving directions. it got hectic afterwards though, with everyone trying to find their coaches. luckily it was too packed for them to leave, so it didnt matter if people were late.
i think i saw reuben in hyde park. it looked exactly like the picture of him on his avataar. he had a big che flag too :)
it suprised me how much support for palestine there was. i knew there would be some, but i'd say over 50% of banners and placards were about it. also the biggest cheers when people were speaking were when they criticised isreal. nice to see that so many people sympathise with the palestines, from what the media says, its like there is hardly anyone.

[BOZG]

CIKI

I didn't actually hear any of the speechs. I was standing over at Central Bank so I couldn't hear with the music playing near us. I was also too busy playing with my megaphone =D. Were you marching near any of the political parties? I think Shane McGowan said "Fuck The Yanks, Fuck The Brits".

[Edelweiss]

I went to Amsterdam, which was much nearer to my hometown in western Germany than Berlin, also it was a great chance to meet my Che-lives comrades D-Day and CCCP in "real live".
According to Indymedia there have been about 80,000 people marching in Amsterdam, a really impresive number, if you consider that Holland only has about 14 million citizens. I really enjoyed the day, it gave me some power and hope for the upcoming months of the resistance against those fucking war, also it was just great to finally meet two Che-Lives comrades face to face, especially as nice ones as Bas and CCCP. Of course I also used this day trip also to enjoy some other pleasures Amsterdam can provide, and I returned to Germany pretty stoned...

[BOZG]

Well 100,000 marched in Dublin and Ireland only has a population of 4 million so the Dublin protest is far greater.

[MEXCAN]

Over 150 000 in Montréal,Canada at -25º celsius,- 36º with the winchill factor !!!! brrrr

[Eastside Revolt]

We only had 30,000+ at the Vancouver rally, I couldn't stay long, I had to go to work. But I got in touch with some people.

[timbaly]

1.5 million people live on the island of Manhattan in NYC.
There were 1 million people in the march on that island. it may seem like a really lagre portion but there are 21 million people in the New York Metropolitan area. I must have heard atleast ten different languages at the march so i get the impression that people flew in for this event.

[BOZG]

Dublin: 100,000

[MEXCAN]

check this video of the march in montréal http://montreal.indymedia.org/front.php3?a...p=webcast[/url]

(Edited by MEXCAN at 10:41 pm on Feb. 16, 2003)

[guerrillaradio]

I was also at London. It was freezing cold, and chockablock, but nevertheless excellent and exhilarating. I was with a friend who's a veteran marcher (she reckons she's been on about 500 protests) and she said she'd never seen one so big. One million is the police estimate, but I'd say two million is more realistic. I saw speeches by Andy Gilchrist (I think...FBU [Fire Brigade's Union] leader responsible for mass strikes by firefighters in UK over pay), Harold Pinter (English playwright), Ken Livingstone (London Mayor, and probably Britan's most prominent leftist) and Jesse Jackson (American human rights campaigner).

Judging by today's scenes (desperate speeches at the final day of the Labour Conference in Glasgow), we've really forced the issue into the Cabinet again. Well done to everyone here who protested yesterday, both in London and internationally. The power of the people can stop this one-sided war.

[Lefty]

I wonder what Bush will do?

[redbhoy59]

Many people in my area went on one of the many buses to NYC for the rally. Which was important due to the fact that they were trying to march on the UN. I stayed in Chicago (due to my party commitments). It was around 15 degrees F. Cold as f--k. However we still managed to bring out upwards of 7,000 protesters. (that is police numbers, I put it more around 10,000). It was brilliant!This was in a supportive Pakistani neighborhood due to the mandatory registration of our so called "free democracy" of Pakistani immigrants (aka: nazi Germany).

We are living history folks! Even the white middle class of the USA are waking up to the horrors that their government is creating.

Support the Anti-war movement!
Support freedom of Palestine!
Support the Anti-neo-liberal movement of Latin America!
Support Hugo Chavez!!
We, around the world, are kicking capitalism's ass!

And Larissa, I think you may be the perfect human, but don't expect us to be married right away.

(Edited by redbhoy59 at 12:48 pm on Feb. 17, 2003)

[Ze]

I was on the frontlines fighting for my American right to be heard and to assemble at the rally. This video is a taste of what occured in NYC.

http://home.nyc.rr.com/jaymzz/protest/NYC%...ty%20Anyone.AVI (http://home.nyc.rr.com/jaymzz/protest/NYC%20-%2030%20-%20A%20Little%20Police%20Brutality%20Anyone.AVI)



(Edited by Ze at 9:06 pm on Feb. 17, 2003)

[Cobber]

About 250,000 turn out for the Sydney rally on what was a hot and humid day. The people came from all walks of life - the rent-a-crowd seen at every protest, the unions, school kids, parents and toddler, pensions and war veterans - and religious and ethnic backgrounds. Many people, like myself, were marching in protest for the first time.

There were so many people there, many had finished the march from Hyde Park along Elizabeth Street and George Street and back to Hyde Park before others had started - the march was infinite, with no beginning or end...It was finally re-routed to the Domain.

I have read somewhere that for each person that actually protests or attends a rally, you will find nine more who share the same belief. So 2,500,000 Sydneysiders oppose the war, however the our Prime Minister regards those who marched a "mob", and believes the silent majority are with him

[Hayduke]

Welllike Malte already mentioned I was in the demo in Amerstdam.
And was very pleased to met my che lives comradesL CCCP and Malte :)

Things went quite strange, I went quite earlier to the station. And was supposed to meet up with CCCP there, but no one was there.
I arrived at Amsterdam and a hour later, in the big city I see a guy, and walk on..... ( then we both look back ) and CCCP comes up asking were the demo's are held, and mentioned that he missed a guy in Amersfoort. " You missed someone on Station Amersfoort I replied with a smile ;)

Well then we were picking up Malte, and were drinking a beer before the demo starts.

The demo was very succesfull, 80 000 people. A lot of different people, from buisnessman to punkers. It all went peace fully.

After the demo we brought CCCP to the station, since he had to meet up with a friend of him back in Baarn. And Malte and I stayed a bit longer.

[canikickit]

Jesse Jackson's speech was totally shit. That idiot pissed me off. I thought Ken Livingstone's was pretty good.

The Dublin protest was the best; I saw some footage of the New York and London ones and they looked crap.

[BOZG]

The Dublin protest was the best; I saw some footage of the New York and London ones and they looked crap

I second that. It is now law. Now answer my previous question *****.

[canikickit]

Was I marching near any political parties? That question?

I don't know, I think we were beside a big Sinn Féin contingent for a while. I think I was standing beside you as well for a while. Do you have longish curly kind of hair?

I came out of the Greshem, and thought to myself, "maybe I'll see BOZG" then I looked around and realised that there were tens of thousands of people surrounding me so I didn't think that any more.

[BOZG]

Now I don't. Why did you think it was me? Was this person holding the Socialist Youth banner by any chance?

[canikickit]

He looked pretty stupid, so I figured it was you.

Nah, I don't know, I just suddenly thought it was you, but I didn't know what to say without looking like a crazed lunatic. Lucky I didn't, I guess.