Stop The War Demo, London, Saturday

MunchyBrain

Born Against
I would have put this on Events but I don't think many people look at it.


"This Saturday sees a large anti-war march in central London, with the Stop The War Coalition marking five years since the largest demonstration in British history - against invading Iraq.

Below is Class War's open letter to the StWC leadership:

Five Years On - Why Are We Still Marching

IF MARCHING CHANGED ANYTHING THEY'D ABOLISH IT
Back in 2003 the Stop the War Coalition had two tactics to prevent war in Iraq: marching from A to B and then going home, and marching from B to A and then going home. Neither of these cunning plans worked, but they seemed so good to Tony Benn, Lindsey German and their friends it is all the StWC’s done to stop the war. This may let them claim the moral high ground: but how many divisions can that muster? Any superiority this might give them has, anyway, been squandered by their adherence to tactics which have failed to achieve their stated objectives. The British state has faced StWC down once and knows it can do so again if, for example, it chooses to partner the US in an attack on Iran.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
Thankfully not all protestors followed the supine policies of the StWC. School and college students walked out of their institutions, disrupted traffic, and showed a willingness to wrestle with the police. When demonstrators travelled to disrupt the Fairford airbase, there was no ‘right’ to demonstrate, only the illegal actions of the police. Clearly they recognised the threat posed by direct action to the Government’s war plans, even if the StWC could not.

NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR
Gordon Brown is committed to the neo-conservative project. Those who celebrated Tony Blair’s resignation ought to consider that he handed over at a time of his choice to the successor of his choice who shares his politics. Britain remains in the missionary position and will remain so regardless of whether Bush, McCain, Obama or Clinton’s on top. Given this, a militant anti-war movement is as necessary as ever. Sadly the StWC is as impotent now as five years ago.

TALKING A GOOD FIGHT
To cover up its flaccid nature, the StWC has as many excuses as an incapable lover. Their 2008 pamphlet begins with the following astonishing claim by Viscount Stansgate (Tony Benn): ‘The Stop the War movement is the most powerful and influential popular political movement of my lifetime and possibly of any period of our history’. If the last five years have been a victory, we would have hated to see a defeat! Such lies can also be found amongst the witterings of the SWP leadership, with John Rees informing us that ‘Tony Blair was Britain’s worst ever prime minister’ (has he never heard of Margaret Thatcher?) and that ‘we [the StWC] had driven him out of office’. This is nothing short of collective delusion and helps explain why the 1.5 million marchers in 2003 have been followed by ever decreasing turnouts. Working class people are used to being lied to by mainstream politicians – we do not need such lies from the self-proclaimed leaders of the anti-war movement as well.

Given it has been such a flop when it matters, the Stop the War Coalition needs a good dose of Viagra. We are calling on demonstrators today to let the Stop the War Coalition leadership know their feeble approach satisfies only the state and the war-mongers. "

Meet 11.45 in Trafalgar Square.

Suggested banner slogan: CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF FAILURE.
 
I would have put this on Events but I don't think many people look at it.

Kewpie would have moved it anyway;):D

Good luck, I went on the march in Manchester, with my kids in the rain five years ago.
Pity one isn't being organised here again.

War, HUH, what is it good for, absolutely nothing......:guitar:

Jukebox Jury
 
Kewpie would have moved it anyway;):D

Good luck, I went on the march in Manchester, with my kids in the rain five years ago.
Pity one isn't being organised here again.

War, HUH, what is it good for, absolutely nothing......:guitar:

Jukebox Jury


Thankyou for being the one person who's going to reply to this. :D
 
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whilst you may be right in what you say, don't you think
1. it'll be too small to make a difference, class wise?
2. the right-wing press will love anything like this that splits the class?

but good luck in your endeavours, I won't be on it!

love

Grim
 
I would have put this on Events but I don't think many people look at it.


"This Saturday sees a large anti-war march in central London, with the Stop The War Coalition marking five years since the largest demonstration in British history - against invading Iraq.

Below is Class War's open letter to the StWC leadership:

Five Years On - Why Are We Still Marching

IF MARCHING CHANGED ANYTHING THEY'D ABOLISH IT
Back in 2003 the Stop the War Coalition had two tactics to prevent war in Iraq: marching from A to B and then going home, and marching from B to A and then going home. Neither of these cunning plans worked, but they seemed so good to Tony Benn, Lindsey German and their friends it is all the StWC’s done to stop the war. This may let them claim the moral high ground: but how many divisions can that muster? Any superiority this might give them has, anyway, been squandered by their adherence to tactics which have failed to achieve their stated objectives. The British state has faced StWC down once and knows it can do so again if, for example, it chooses to partner the US in an attack on Iran.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS
Thankfully not all protestors followed the supine policies of the StWC. School and college students walked out of their institutions, disrupted traffic, and showed a willingness to wrestle with the police. When demonstrators travelled to disrupt the Fairford airbase, there was no ‘right’ to demonstrate, only the illegal actions of the police. Clearly they recognised the threat posed by direct action to the Government’s war plans, even if the StWC could not.

NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR
Gordon Brown is committed to the neo-conservative project. Those who celebrated Tony Blair’s resignation ought to consider that he handed over at a time of his choice to the successor of his choice who shares his politics. Britain remains in the missionary position and will remain so regardless of whether Bush, McCain, Obama or Clinton’s on top. Given this, a militant anti-war movement is as necessary as ever. Sadly the StWC is as impotent now as five years ago.

TALKING A GOOD FIGHT
To cover up its flaccid nature, the StWC has as many excuses as an incapable lover. Their 2008 pamphlet begins with the following astonishing claim by Viscount Stansgate (Tony Benn): ‘The Stop the War movement is the most powerful and influential popular political movement of my lifetime and possibly of any period of our history’. If the last five years have been a victory, we would have hated to see a defeat! Such lies can also be found amongst the witterings of the SWP leadership, with John Rees informing us that ‘Tony Blair was Britain’s worst ever prime minister’ (has he never heard of Margaret Thatcher?) and that ‘we [the StWC] had driven him out of office’. This is nothing short of collective delusion and helps explain why the 1.5 million marchers in 2003 have been followed by ever decreasing turnouts. Working class people are used to being lied to by mainstream politicians – we do not need such lies from the self-proclaimed leaders of the anti-war movement as well.

Given it has been such a flop when it matters, the Stop the War Coalition needs a good dose of Viagra. We are calling on demonstrators today to let the Stop the War Coalition leadership know their feeble approach satisfies only the state and the war-mongers. "

Meet 11.45 in Trafalgar Square.

Suggested banner slogan: CELEBRATING 5 YEARS OF FAILURE.
...so I'll be expecting my mum to land on my doorstep in order to go this weekend then :rolleyes: ;)
 
The general idea was to try and push to the front of the march (which is suprisingly easy, I've done it before) and then attract peoples attention and maybe get some press. You'd be surprised.
 
The general idea was to try and push to the front of the march (which is suprisingly easy, I've done it before) and then attract peoples attention and maybe get some press. You'd be surprised.

I hope it is well attended. Apathy is no excuse though, because if you even think things can't be changed then they most certainly wont be.

I'd love to be there, but you'll just have to accept my moral support against this pointless war.
 
I really want to go on this, I asked my mother, she said I could if I found my way to London without getting mugged.
 
i'm sure this will make a big difference.
 
I really don't agree with the war.Not just the loss of lives but think what the money could have been used for.

However such demonstrations must be pretty demoralising if your a soldier.They are doing their best.We should support them.And use our vote wisely next time around.
 
I really don't agree with the war.Not just the loss of lives but think what the money could have been used for.

However such demonstrations must be pretty demoralising if your a soldier.They are doing their best.We should support them.And use our vote wisely next time around.

I reckon being shot at must be pretty demoralising too and thats why we should bring them home.
 
I really don't agree with the war.Not just the loss of lives but think what the money could have been used for.

However such demonstrations must be pretty demoralising if your a soldier.They are doing their best.We should support them.And use our vote wisely next time around.


What? I am totally against the war and have been on many Demos & Marches. I have written to my MP, the Secretary of Defence and the Prime Minister, denouncing this vile act of illegal aggression.

Why should I give up my legal right of voicing opposition, or abandon my moral duty, just to spare some soldiers feelings? I don't support them.

Men gave their lives to give me this right!
 
What? I am totally against the war and have been on many Demos & Marches. I have written to my MP, the Secretary of Defence and the Prime Minister, denouncing this vile act of illegal aggression.

Why should I give up my legal right of voicing opposition, or abandon my moral duty, just to spare some soldiers feelings? I don't support them.

Men gave their lives to give me this right!

Brilliantly played!
 
Brilliantly played!

Agreed.

Texas v Johnson was a miscarriage of constitutional interpretation. The biggest blunder the court made other than the Kelo Case in my opinion in the last twenty years.
 
I don't know how clear this was but this is more an ANTI Stop The War Coalition thing. Not because we're pro-war but because they're pathetic. If you just want to walk along in the crowd saying "WHAT DO WE WANT?" "BRING TROOPS HOME!" "WHEN DO WE WANT IT?" "WHEN IT'S CONVENIENT FOR YOU!" Then I recommend you go on the main march with the Socialist Worker reading wankers. :)
 
I think the SWP want immediate troop withdrawal? do they not? I'm sure you know more than me.

We believe the anti-war movement is stronger because of the anti-imperialism at its core. The movement for global justice is stronger for its anti-capitalism and stronger still when it links to working class resistance. We strive to be the anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist voice of the movements we build. We want to win fellow activists to these ideas. Millions of people are already drawing the connections between the war on Iraq, the occupation of Palestine, the bleeding dry of the global south, attacks on working people in Britain and the global rule of profit. We seek to deepen that process.

From www.swp.org.uk

I think most people on these marches want immediate troop withdrawal,
 
The walking isn't the important bit! It's the unity of opposition! In all honesty, it would be more effective if we burned down parliament and painted it red, but it's not going to happen
 
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