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| Did you protest against the Iraq invasion? | Did you protest against the Iraq invasion? |
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| Today marks the 10th anniversary of the largest day of global protest in history. On 15 February 2003 up to 30 million people marched in protest against the planned invasion of Iraq. In London alone, organisers estimated over one million people descended on Hyde Park to register their opposition to the imminent invasion, making it the largest protest in UK history. Mo Mowlam, Tariq Ali, Tony Benn and Vanessa Redgrave were among the high-profile marchers to take part in the London event, with Rev Jesse Jackson leading the crowd in chanting: "Give peace a chance, keep hope alive." | Today marks the 10th anniversary of the largest day of global protest in history. On 15 February 2003 up to 30 million people marched in protest against the planned invasion of Iraq. In London alone, organisers estimated over one million people descended on Hyde Park to register their opposition to the imminent invasion, making it the largest protest in UK history. Mo Mowlam, Tariq Ali, Tony Benn and Vanessa Redgrave were among the high-profile marchers to take part in the London event, with Rev Jesse Jackson leading the crowd in chanting: "Give peace a chance, keep hope alive." |
| Protests took place in more than 60 countries on 15 and 16 February. Over 100,000 people marched in New York City, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the crowd. | Protests took place in more than 60 countries on 15 and 16 February. Over 100,000 people marched in New York City, where Archbishop Desmond Tutu addressed the crowd. |
| But all over the world, people took to the streets in their thousands, from Tunisia to Fiji, Palestine to Mexico – even a small group of scientists based in the McMurdo station in Antarctica protested. The rest, of course, is history, but reflecting on the marches a year later in October 2004, the British politician Salma Yaqoob wrote: | But all over the world, people took to the streets in their thousands, from Tunisia to Fiji, Palestine to Mexico – even a small group of scientists based in the McMurdo station in Antarctica protested. The rest, of course, is history, but reflecting on the marches a year later in October 2004, the British politician Salma Yaqoob wrote: |
| Yes, the anti-war movement failed to prevent the war. But it is only a matter of months since opposition to the war climaxed with a worldwide day of protest on 15 February 2003. Up to 2 million people marched in London that day and the importance of this event, both globally and locally, should not be underestimated. | Yes, the anti-war movement failed to prevent the war. But it is only a matter of months since opposition to the war climaxed with a worldwide day of protest on 15 February 2003. Up to 2 million people marched in London that day and the importance of this event, both globally and locally, should not be underestimated. |
| The anti-war movement had a real impact on world politics. It influenced the prosecution of the war; it gave confidence to opponents of the war in the Arab world; it led to a co-ordination of international protests to a degree not seen for many years; and it dramatically raised the consciousness of millions of people about the actions being carried out in their name. | The anti-war movement had a real impact on world politics. It influenced the prosecution of the war; it gave confidence to opponents of the war in the Arab world; it led to a co-ordination of international protests to a degree not seen for many years; and it dramatically raised the consciousness of millions of people about the actions being carried out in their name. |
| For many, no matter where they were in the world, taking part in the protest was a defining political experience. Comment is free would like to hear its readers' memories of the day. Did you take part? Where did you march? What effect has it had on you since? Share your thoughts below the line, email us your pictures of the day or tweet us your memories @commentisfree | For many, no matter where they were in the world, taking part in the protest was a defining political experience. Comment is free would like to hear its readers' memories of the day. Did you take part? Where did you march? What effect has it had on you since? Share your thoughts below the line, email us your pictures of the day or tweet us your memories @commentisfree |
| Your responses: | |
| Ben Soffa has emailed with a photograph of his collection of leaflets from the day. He says: | |
| Ten years ago, I was organising one of the coaches which we'd booked for the Liverpool Student Stop the War Coalition - a city where there were dozens of coaches and a privately-booked train bringing people down to the demo | |
| And here are a first selection of tweets from around the world: | |
| @oliverlaughland Yes, I was one of close to a million people protesting in Sydney and the Howard govt totally ignored us. Felt very weird. | |
| — Keren Lavelle (@sleepingdingo) February 15, 2013 | |
| @oliverlaughland Massive crowds protested in many towns & cities throughout Ireland. Unfortunately they were ignored | |
| — Pádraic Mac Coitir (@CoitirMac) February 15, 2013 | |
| . @oliverlaughland @commentisfree I organised a sit in at my high school and took over headmaster's office... front page local paper! | |
| — Andy Moore (@eggshellskull) February 15, 2013 |