200,000 march in Melbourne

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday February 15, 2003 03:55 by path in exile

the largest global day of protest ever kicks off down under

Melbourne IMC - first protest of the weekend!

200 000 people gathered in the streets of Melbourne on Friday afternoon in a massive display of dissent to any war on Iraq. In the biggest protest in the city's history a huge array of people gathered in opposition to Australia's involvement in any war. Australia is the only country other than the US and UK to have already committed troops to the gulf region.

Bigger than the anti-Vietnam war moratorium protests, the march stretched for blocks and barely moved as thousands crammed the streets. The crowd listened to Kurdish and Iraqi refugees, union organisers, and politicians, some calling for civil disobedience and industrial action. Victoria Trades Hall Council called for a stop work if the war broke out.

Check out Melbourne Indymedia for reports and photos.

http://melbourne.indymedia.org/