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Leading the Stop The War protest

October 24th 2009 was set to be the date for the ‘Stop The War’ protest, a demonstration march against the ongoing war in Afghanistan. The top 10 reasons for protesting, as quoted by the Stop The War website were:

1. The death rate is rising on both sides

   The number of British troops who have died is now higher than those killed in 6 years in Iraq. Fifteen soldiers died in the first two weeks of July alone. No one keeps track of the number of Afghan dead but it numbers tens of thousands since 2001. In May more than 140 Afghans, mainly women and children, were killed in one air strike.

2. This is an unwinnable war

   The Taliban was defeated in 2001 but is now growing in strength. Osama bin Laden has not been captured. The war is supposedly about defending the Karzai government. But his government is one of the most corrupt in the world. Neither he nor the occupation forces have brought any real improvements for the Afghan

3. Gordon Brown claims the war is about combating terrorism.

   There was no terrorist threat to Britain before the war in Afghanistan, or before the war in Iraq in 2003. It is those wars and their consequences that have made Britain a target. Even MI5 told the government the Iraq occupation was likely to increase not decrease terrorism.

4. We are told this may have to be our ’30 years war’

   We have fought for eight years and the situation is getting worse. Children as yet unborn will be dying if this war is not stopped.

5. The war is spreading to Pakistan

   Pakistan is a nuclear state, opening up the prospect of an even more terrible conflict

6. Life is getting worse for most Afghans under occupation

   There is a huge refugee problem. Corruption is rife. While Tony Blair promised in 2001 ‘we will not walk away’ Afghanistan remains one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the United Nations life expectancy has fallen for Afghans since 2003. Far more is spent on the war and the military than is spent on reconstruction. Aid meant to help the Afghans is not getting through to those who need it.

7. Britain has spent £4.6 billion on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq every year

   This is enough money to create 200,000 graduate jobs annually. We should be funding these jobs, not wasting more money on war. Unemployment must not become a recruiting sergeant for the army.

8. More troops or helicopters won’t help

   The NATO forces are not losing because they don’t have the equipment but because they are in Afghanistan.

9. We were told that the war in Afghanistan was to liberate women

   Women’s lives have not improved. Death in childbirth is rising. The Karzai government even tried to pass a law allowing rape in marriage. Despite all the talk about troops helping girls to go to school, less than a third of Afghan girls are in school and less than 10% can read and write, 8 years after the fall of the Taliban.

10. The majority of Afghans do not want the war and occupation

    The majority of British people think the troops should come home by Xmas at the latest. In two recent polls 56% (BBC and Guardian) and 59% (ITN) want the troops out.

Placards ready and waiting

Thousands turned up to join in the march through the streets of London chanting anti-war and political slogans all the while. The broad spectrum of people making the effort to march really made you think, some of the more notable people being:

Peter Brierley

Hetty Bower

Joe Glenton

Tony Benn

Peter Brierley

Peter recently hit the news as the man who refused to shake the hand of Tony Blair, stating “I’m not shaking your hand, you’ve got blood on it.” Peter’s son Lance Cpl Shaun Brierley was killed while in service in 2003.

Hetty Bower

At 104 Hetty was the oldest protester at the event, but still managed to walk the entire march. Having lived through each of the world wars Hetty said “‘I march because I can see no reason for further killing. I have walked on every march against us going to war. At my age there is not very much I can do but while my legs can carry me I am going to march.”

Lance Cpl Joe Glenton

Joe Glenton is the first serving soldier to take part in an anti-war protest.  Already facing arrest and court martial for being AWOL due to his disagreement with the war, Joe had been told that attendance at the march would result in further charges being brought, but Joe felt so strongly about the issue that he still marched proudly.

Tony Benn

Politician and leader of the Stop the War Coalition, Tony Benn still made the effort to attend and give a rousing speech despite having recently been hospitalised after taking ill at a recent conference in Brighton.

Marching forward at the Stop The War protests in London, October 24th 2009

The march started at the well known Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, demonstrators gathering from 12 noon where they were greeted by stalls from many political groups handing out flyers and newspapers.  Hundreds of placards waited for them to collect and hoist aloft, ready for the actual protest march which began at 1pm.  The march set off at 1pm exactly and lead the protesters through Park Lane, Piccadilly and Haymarket among others, ending at Trafalgar Square where the crowd were entertained with songs by Robb Johnson before listening to moving speeches from Tony Benn, Joe Glenton, an ex Guantanamo Bay prisoner, leader of the British Muslim Initiative and others. Despite rain trying its best to spoil the day, people listened intently to all speakers, whooping cheering and clapping often, making their views known on the war.

Protesting for peace

Rain didn't deter the protesters

Protesters listen to the speakers at Trafalgar Square

There was even a bit of light comic relief at times, provided by Charlie Veitch who is often to be found shouting on a loudspeaker in protests in London. Unfortunately I didnt manage to capture the first part of one of Charlie’s talks to the police, in which he advised officers when using their batons not to hit below the belt, no cracking skulls and if at all possible try not to kill anyone. Even the police were chuckling at this, as you can see here:

Charlie Veitch

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWJx-12ZIYQ”>www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWJx-12ZIYQ

All in all it was an excellent protest, peaceful and respectful as they should be. Hopefully they have made people think, especially with the upcoming general elections!

The rest of the pictures from the day can be seen in my gallery by clicking here.

As ever, comments and suggestions welcome.

~Shepy