Anti-war demonstrators support Iranian students

Submitted by martin on 16 March, 2008 - 11:16 Author: Colin Foster

AWL members, supporters and friends collected money for the campaign to free the jailed socialist students in Iran on the Stop The War demonstration in London on 15 March.

We don't have complete returns yet, but the total must come to a few hundred pounds.

The ordinary marchers had more positive attitudes than those expressed on the platform, where George Galloway sneered at "the pink contingent of the khaki brigade", suggesting that anyone who opposes the victimisation of LGB people in Iran is a pro-Bush warmonger.

Sales of Solidarity on the demonstration were also passable.

It was pretty much a demonstration of the left, but a bit broader than the circle of the regularly-active left.

Some demonstrators have said there were 20,000, but my guess would be nearer 10,000.

Like other marches since 2002, it was formally co-organised by Stop The War, CND and the British Muslim Initiative (a successor of MAB) but in fact it was pretty much just STW.

Over the years STW demos have become more and more "portmanteau" events, so Saturday was supposed to be a protest simultaneously about Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Gaza.

One problem with this is that it may detract from specific protests about specific events - for example about the recent Israeli bludgeoning of Gaza - because they all get "rolled into" the routine STW parade.

Another is that it must discourage people from going on the streets if they want to protest against US/UK policy in Iraq but don't share a Manichean view of the world as divided between Forces of Evil (Bush, Blair, Brown, Israel) and Forces of Good (Hamas, Taliban, Hezbollah, Ahmedinejad, George Galloway).

Galloway was introduced by Andrew Murray as "the anti-imperialist hero"; and BMI leader Azzam Tamimi described the 6 March massacre in a Jewish religious seminary in Israel as an "attack on a Zionist location in occupied Jerusalem". (The seminary is in west, Jewish, Jerusalem, not in occupied Arab east Jerusalem).

This website uses cookies, you can find out more and set your preferences here.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.