Scale of protest surprises its organisers as the anti-war movement cuts across class and political divides
Henry McDonald and Nicola Byrne
Sunday February 16, 2003
The Observer
An estimated 40,000 people took part in yesterday's anti-war march in Dublin, making it one of the largest-ever protest gatherings in Ireland, while in Belfast 10,000 demonstrators took to the streets of the city centre. Organisers had predicted 20,000 marchers in Dublin, but by 2pm it was clear that figure was hugely conservative after the main streets in the city were brought to a standstill by protesters streaming into the centre.
Traffic was disrupted for more than four hours as the parade snaked across from Parnell Square to Government Buildings. At one point, the march was forced to split in two because of the numbers and both sides of O'Connell Street were filled with protesters.
Richard Boyd Barrett, head of the Irish anti-war movement, said the unprecedented size of the rally would force the government to listen. 'They cannot ignore what has taken place in Dublin. This is the people saying that enough is enough, we want the US military out of Ireland and we don't want this evil war.'
Protesters from as far afield as Achill Island, the furthest reaches of Donegal and the Dingle peninsula in Kerry began arriving from early morning.
Prominent business people joined factory workers, students, activists and opposition politicians to voice their hostility to military action. Hundreds of members of the Muslim community in Ireland also turned out.
Under the banner 'Don't Attack Iraq', the crowd moved off towards the Department of Foreign Affairs at St Stephen's Green.
After a brief stop, it went on to Dame Street for the main rally, where Christy Moore, Kila and Mary Coughlan entertained the crowd. At its longest, the parade extended for more than two kilometres.
John Feely, from Roscommon, said: 'I came because we can make a difference and we will make a difference. We will stop this war.'
Veronica Towell, a grandmother from Rathfarnham in Dublin, came with her children and grandson.
'This is only the second protest march I've ever been on, but I had to come. This war would be so unjust and so cruel, it has to be stopped,' she said.
Senior trade union officials, including SIPTU president Des Geraghty and the general secretary of the Congress of Trade Unions, David Begg, were joined by TDs from the Labour Party, Green Party and Sinn Fein.
Earlier the Bishop of Clonfert and head of the Trócaire aid agency, Dr John Kirby, called on the government not to support military action and to put moral issues ahead of economic ones.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern continues to refuse to say how the Government would respond if the US opted for unilateral military action, stating he has adopted a 'wait-and-see' approach.
The Belfast demonstration spanned the city's traditional sectarian divide, with marchers coming from every area.
Prominent politicians from Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the centrist Alliance Party attended the protest.
Mark Durkan, the SDLP leader, sent a message to the rallies: 'The UN inspectorate has not found the smoking gun. There is no justification for war at this time.'
As the march moved off from the grounds of the Art College, protesters walked behind banners with slogans such as 'War is terrorism with a bigger budget' and 'West Belfast says No to war'. There was also a large contingent of pro-Palestinian demonstrators carrying the Palestine national flag.
Meanwhile, the leader of Ireland's four million Catholics told the peace protesters that there needed to be a change in the hearts and minds of Tony Blair and George Bush.
In a statement read out at demonstrations in Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Newry and Derry yesterday, Dr Sean Brady said the Iraqi people had already suffered enough.
'Military action against Iraq would impose tremendous suffering on a people that has already suffered too much. We must do all we can to change the hearts and minds of those who are now determined to wage war,' the Catholic Primate said.
Start Date: 2003-02-15 19:00:00-05
End Date: 2003-03-17 19:00:00-05
Created By: Web Master
Comments
EXCELLENT,EXCELLENT,EXCELLENT! WISH WE COULD HAVE BEEN THERE!! KEEP IT UP!!
Created By: Patrick Boyd
An estimated 40,000 people took part in yesterday's anti-war march in Dublin
And the rest!
Created By: tony thegreek
I am an Irish American and was visiting relatives during the past week in Tipperary and Waterford counties and arrived in Dublin too late to participate in Sunday's demonstration. But I was engaged in family discussions at every family gathering. My ussally conservative relatives all wanted me to explain the frightening combination of ignorance and arrogance that is George Bush - I failed at the task! I now go home to the United States to continue the struggle. Pax et Bonam!
Created By: Tom Crowe
I had already planned a trip to Ireland before the Feb. 15th rallies were planned but I was able to attend the amazing incredible march in Dublin. The Irish Times reported that 100,000 people were there. I was moved to tears when I saw a group from Galway marching with stick-children signs with names of Iraqi children attached to them - names like Tariq and Najat and Ash'ar - with red, white and blue targets for the faces. I bounced around and ahead to take in as much as I could of the signs and messages. I saw one that said "Bush does not speak for all Americans; US Citizens against the War." "Bush II: Judgment Day - Oil Be Back", Youth against war with a group of probably 50 young people laying down on Grafton Street for one minute, representing Iraqi children. Predominate messages were directed to Bertie and to Blair - "Blair you're barking up the wrong Bush", "What part of No Don't you understand?" "Axis of Diesel", and so on. "Quakers for Peace" Green Party, Labour Party , Sinn Fein, etc. all had prominent banners. I heard a Kurdish man speak on behalf of Kurds in Ireland asking where was the US (and other countries) back when they were being persecuted? Hazel O'Connor sang Bob Marley's Songs of Freedom. There were so many speakers who weren't heard because the march was so long. Notably, the guardai (police) presence was minimal. There were a few standing around, mostly to keep traffic out but the guardai were not there to intimidate. Towards the end of the march on Dames St., I sat for awhile to watch everyone go by - young, old, loud, quiet - there was a break in the crowd and these two guardai went into the middle of the street on their horses. About a minute later a drum corps turned the corner and the horses freaked from the sound of the drums. The cops took the horses back off the road. And that was that. People kept streaming in to the end of the march. Parts of the group went down alternate streets because there were so many people but nobody cared. Tourists and shoppers stopped to watch the puppets and musicians and others who came out on this cold day to send a message to the government of Ireland and England and the US. Compared to the NYPD attempt to pen in and separate protesters, the Dublin protest was both celebratory, silent and somber, peaceful, urgent, and one where expression of idea and thought was promoted not repressed.
Created By: ruth g
I am so glad we went.Sadly I feel there will still be a war.Then,when Saddam is ousted,all the rightwing columnists will ask us to have some humility and admit we were mistaken and that force does work.Well,sometimes maybe(Kosovo?).But maybe they should check with the women of Afghanistan.Meanwhile it's great to know so many millions just hate the new world order.
Created By: Dara O Rourke
Why is this report still up onsite? Macdonald's figures are wrong. A week later RTE's numbers are 100,000.
Created By: brendan holland