Hundreds of Thousands Demonstrate to Declare: Not In Our Name!

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Hundreds of Thousands Demonstrate to Declare: Not In Our Name!

Over one hundred thousand people took to the streets of London on Saturday, September 27, to vigorously condemn the criminal Anglo-US aggression against and continued occupation of Iraq, as well as to demand freedom for Palestine. The demonstration from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square, marked by its militant slogans, drummers, klaxons, whistles and a forest of banners, thronged the streets of London giving voice to the people's determined opposition to the present warmongering course of the US and British governments. It coincided with many demonstrations throughout the globe over the weekend which declared that occupation is not liberation.

The marchers represented trade unions like the National Union of Teachers, Transport and General Workers' Union, Unison, NATFHE and the Public and Commercial Servants Union, local anti-war groups, and different political, social and religious organisations. Numerous slogans reflected the principled stand of the people in their opposition to the warmongering course of the rich. "Self - determination - Freedom for Iraq and Palestine", "UK PLC - Ruled by Corporate warmongers", "Power to the People", "This War on Terrorism is Bogus", "Stop American Corporate Dictatorship", "Enough of Bush and Co - Let's Share the World's Resources" and "Invest in Caring not Killing" were all slogans which gave voice not only to the people' s opposition to the present state of affairs but also to their aspirations for a new world based on justice.

US imperialism and the British government in their aggression against Iraq have not only violated the fundamental principle that the people of any country have the right to determine their own affairs. In doing so they have torn up all international norms, committed crimes against peace and treated the UN with contempt.

The British working class must utterly reject the reactionary chauvinism by which the government gives itself the right to take up the "white man’s burden". The occupation of Ira and the government lies expose how repugnant is this chauvinism carried out in the name of "human rights".

The overwhelming sentiment of the demonstrators and the speeches given in Trafalgar Square was that it is the working class and people who can and must affirm their right to make the decisions which affect humanity, and that they will decide for peace.