LARGE ANTI-WAR DEMO IN SLIGO

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday March 22, 2003 19:34 by F. Walsh - Sligo Anti-War Movement

The streets of Sligo were closed to traffic for a period this afternoon as over 1,000 people participated in an Anti-War Protest March through the town.

Those participating in the demonstration assembled in Quay Street shortly after 3.00 p.m. and led by members of the Sligo Anti-War movement and a samba band, the protesters marched through Sligo’s main streets to the Town Hall where an open air protest rally was held.

Speakers at the rally, which was chaired by anti-war activist and Labour Alderman Declan Bree, included the Deputy Mayor of Sligo Councillor Veronica Cawley, Mr John Comiskey of the Sligo Council of Trade Unions, Ms Tracy Walsh of the North West branch of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Ms Niamh Wilson an activist in the Womens movement in Sligo.

Alderman Declan Bree told the rally that he was proud of the fact that in Sligo, councillors of all political persuasions, on both Sligo Corporation and Sligo County Council had unanimously condemned and deplored the pre-emptive and unilateral action by the U.S. against Iraq. "It is unfortunate that our national government did not take the same stance." he said.

The rally concluded with local piper Alan Roberts playing a lament, as a mark of respect to the innocent victims of war.