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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: | Your responses: |
| Ben Soffa has emailed with a photograph of his collection of leaflets from the day. He says: | 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 | 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: | 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. | @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 | — Keren Lavelle (@sleepingdingo) February 15, 2013 |
| @oliverlaughland Massive crowds protested in many towns & cities throughout Ireland. Unfortunately they were ignored | @oliverlaughland Massive crowds protested in many towns & cities throughout Ireland. Unfortunately they were ignored |
| — Pádraic Mac Coitir (@CoitirMac) February 15, 2013 | — 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! | . @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 | — Andy Moore (@eggshellskull) February 15, 2013 |
| We have also been receiving stories below the line: | We have also been receiving stories below the line: |
| St1bs: | St1bs: |
I marched in the February, and in the previous September. It was actually impossible to march the actual route, so we all fanned out and covered London, pretty much. | I marched in the February, and in the previous September. It was actually impossible to march the actual route, so we all fanned out and covered London, pretty much. |
| I remember so many emotional things, but the one thing that stands out was a middle aged woman I saw in Piccadilly. Just an ordinary woman in an anorak amongst the anarchists and the students and the t-shirts. She was walking with 2 young kids, just old enough to understand, and in her hand she had a piece of cardboard sellotataped onto a length of cane. And written on the cardboard in biro were the words... | I remember so many emotional things, but the one thing that stands out was a middle aged woman I saw in Piccadilly. Just an ordinary woman in an anorak amongst the anarchists and the students and the t-shirts. She was walking with 2 young kids, just old enough to understand, and in her hand she had a piece of cardboard sellotataped onto a length of cane. And written on the cardboard in biro were the words... |
| "AUNTIE JOAN SAYS NO TO WAR" | "AUNTIE JOAN SAYS NO TO WAR" |
| Millo83: | Millo83: |
| I remember the day like it was yesterday. 19 years old and fresher at Lancaster University, nothing was going to stop me marching. I went out the night before with some friends and ended up staying up all night. The 6am departure time for a 6hr journey to London was painful but the banter en route made it bearable. My mate Joe had a homemade banner - the heaviest I have encountered. And he insisted I help him carry it. When our section of the march fell behind, we ran at top speed holding this monster banner through the streets to Hyde Park just in time to see Jesse Jackson speak. His line "Stop the war, save the children" on repeat, rings round my head every so often. 10 years on, I'm a freelance journalist living in London due to report on another peace demo outside Downing Street tonight. | I remember the day like it was yesterday. 19 years old and fresher at Lancaster University, nothing was going to stop me marching. I went out the night before with some friends and ended up staying up all night. The 6am departure time for a 6hr journey to London was painful but the banter en route made it bearable. My mate Joe had a homemade banner - the heaviest I have encountered. And he insisted I help him carry it. When our section of the march fell behind, we ran at top speed holding this monster banner through the streets to Hyde Park just in time to see Jesse Jackson speak. His line "Stop the war, save the children" on repeat, rings round my head every so often. 10 years on, I'm a freelance journalist living in London due to report on another peace demo outside Downing Street tonight. |
| Liesandstats: | Liesandstats: |
| We were in Spain at the time where there were huge marches in Cadiz, Seville, Granada. The amount of banners hanging outside houses etc. was amazing and we had no to the war badges whch were very evident. One of the more interesting sights was in a village outside of Ronda where the local police station was decked in banners. Just outside Cadiz there is an american airbase that was a sight for constant protest as you could see the giant transport planes taking off. | We were in Spain at the time where there were huge marches in Cadiz, Seville, Granada. The amount of banners hanging outside houses etc. was amazing and we had no to the war badges whch were very evident. One of the more interesting sights was in a village outside of Ronda where the local police station was decked in banners. Just outside Cadiz there is an american airbase that was a sight for constant protest as you could see the giant transport planes taking off. |
| Here are some more tweets from around the world: | Here are some more tweets from around the world: |
| @commentisfree I marched with my friends from college, thought a generation would be radicalised, then we voted Blair back in. Cheers. | @commentisfree I marched with my friends from college, thought a generation would be radicalised, then we voted Blair back in. Cheers. |
| — John Doep(@JohnduPreez1) February 15, 2013 | — John Doep(@JohnduPreez1) February 15, 2013 |
| All sorts of people turned out to march that day @commentisfree twitter.com/annaliddle/sta… | All sorts of people turned out to march that day @commentisfree twitter.com/annaliddle/sta… |
| — Anna Liddle (@annaliddle) February 15, 2013 | — Anna Liddle (@annaliddle) February 15, 2013 |
| @oliverlaughland @commentisfree Was 16, angry, skipped school and blocked a road for an hour with 200 ppl in Ft Collins CO. Felt good. | @oliverlaughland @commentisfree Was 16, angry, skipped school and blocked a road for an hour with 200 ppl in Ft Collins CO. Felt good. |
| — Erin Macdonald (@erinpatmac) February 15, 2013 | — Erin Macdonald (@erinpatmac) February 15, 2013 |
| Some comments from Facebook users: | Some comments from Facebook users: |
| Caroline Kenner: | Caroline Kenner: |
| I marched here in Washington, DC with my then 6 year old daughter. We dressed all in pink and carried a pink peace sign made from a hula hoop and pvc pipe, then wound with shiny pink ribbon--as a counter-balance to the many people dressed as the Iraqi war dead and carrying mock coffins. I never march against war, but always march FOR peace. There is a profound difference. My daughter was interviewed by a student reporter from the U of Illinois, and asked what she would say to George Bush if she were able to meet him. Unprompted, she said, "Since I couldn't say anything nice to him, I wouldn't say anything at all." Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings. | I marched here in Washington, DC with my then 6 year old daughter. We dressed all in pink and carried a pink peace sign made from a hula hoop and pvc pipe, then wound with shiny pink ribbon--as a counter-balance to the many people dressed as the Iraqi war dead and carrying mock coffins. I never march against war, but always march FOR peace. There is a profound difference. My daughter was interviewed by a student reporter from the U of Illinois, and asked what she would say to George Bush if she were able to meet him. Unprompted, she said, "Since I couldn't say anything nice to him, I wouldn't say anything at all." Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings. |
| Stacy Francesca: | Stacy Francesca: |
| I drove from Charlotte, NC to Washington D.C. to march against the war. I was planning to go overseas to work and live and I wanted to be involved as much as I could before I left the States. I remember the little insect shaped and sized spy cams flying around everywhere buzzing overhead and everyone knowing exactly what they were. I remember the line of biker and redneck looking pro-Bush demonstrators who heckled us anti-war demonstrators and later I heard there was a fight at the Capitol and arrests had been made. I've been living over seas since and I feel resentment that the government(s) didn't listen to the majority against the war and confused about my obligations now as an American citizen. | I drove from Charlotte, NC to Washington D.C. to march against the war. I was planning to go overseas to work and live and I wanted to be involved as much as I could before I left the States. I remember the little insect shaped and sized spy cams flying around everywhere buzzing overhead and everyone knowing exactly what they were. I remember the line of biker and redneck looking pro-Bush demonstrators who heckled us anti-war demonstrators and later I heard there was a fight at the Capitol and arrests had been made. I've been living over seas since and I feel resentment that the government(s) didn't listen to the majority against the war and confused about my obligations now as an American citizen. |
| Here's a photo sent in by Susan Matthews: | |
| This is the placard my daughter (then aged 6) made for the Iraq war march | |