[R-G] Between 800,000 to 1 million march against war

[ProletarianNews]

AP (with additional material by ABC, Reuters and BBC). 9 November 2002.
Thousands march peacefully through Florence in anti-war, anti-global
demonstration.

FLORENCE -- Nearly a half million people from across Europe defied fears
of violence and marched peacefully through Florence on Saturday in a
carnival-like anti-war and anti-globalization protest.

Police in Florence said about 450,000 people had taken part in the
demonstration, the highlight of an anti-globalization gathering here
that started Wednesday and ends Sunday. The figure was more than twice
the number expected.

Organizer Vittorio Agnoletto estimated the crowd at 800,000 to 1
million.

Brimming with anti-American feelings and riled by a tough new U.N.
resolution to disarm Iraq, young and old activists from as far afield as
Russia and Portugal joined forces for the carnival-like rally, singing
Communist anthems and 1970s peace songs.

"Take your war and go to hell," read one banner, in a forest of
multi-colored and multi-lingual placards.

"Hands off the Middle East" and "The real terrorist is the West!" read
other banners. Some placards depicted President Bush as Hitler and
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as Mussolini.

The protest, involving children as well as grandmothers, marked the
climax of the first European Social Forum, a four-day meeting of
anti-globalisation campaigners from all over Europe.

Delegates discussed topics from debt-reduction to support for the
Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.

On Friday night, a group of about 100 protesters raided the factory of
construction company Caterpillar, accusing it of profiting from the sale
of bulldozers to the Israeli army.

They scrawled graffiti criticising Israel and its Prime Minister Ariel
Sharon and set off smoke bombs.

"Caterpillar is the company that, within the Palestinian territories,
destroys people's houses. This company serves the war against the people
of Palestine," said Guido Lutrario, an activist from Rome.

Despite the large crowds, the march was largely peaceful and no
incidents were reported.

"The atmosphere here is wonderful. Absolutely perfect. It shows that a
new young left is emerging," said Stavos Valsamis, a 27-year-old Greek
activist from Athens.

Children climbed on their parents' shoulders to get a view of the sea of
crowds marching along the seven-km (4.5-miles) route. Many clapped as
marchers passed by.

"This is amazing, it's so impressive," said 12-year-old Bianca Ronglia
as she watched with her family from the side of the road. "I'm happy and
proud that my city is holding this."

As well as university-age students, older political activists and
thousands of trades unionists, Saturday's throng also included Italian
World War II partisans and a U.S. Vietnam war veteran who marched in the
first row of the crowd.

While Friday's U.N. resolution gives the Security Council a central role
in assessing the new arms' inspection program for Iraq, it does not
require the United States to seek U.N. authorization for war in case of
violations.

"I think it's a scandalous resolution," said Sean Murray, 29, a member
of Workers' Revolution. "It proves once more that the U.N. is a puppet
of America, Britain and France."

"It's all because America wants to get control of Iraq's oil," was a
typical comment.

"We want to demonstrate that a different world is possible," said Noemi
Cucchi, 31, who arrived in Florence on Saturday morning with her sister
from the Italian port city of Ancona.

"We no longer have any illusions about institutions like the United
Nations and their ability to help humanity," said Alain Krivine, a
far-left French politician. He added that he was convinced the U.S. had
already made up its mind to attack Iraq.

"Marches alone won't stop wars, but this is quite literally a first
step," he said.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

ProletarianNews
http://www.utopia2000.org
with photos




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