BTL: Massive Worldwide Protests Demand a Peaceful Resolution of Iraq Crisis

Massive Worldwide Protests Demand a Peaceful Resolution of Iraq Crisis

Interviews with Leslie Cagan, veteran protest organizer, and Angela Davis, long-time activist, conducted by Between The Lines' Scott Harris

During global protests Feb. 15, an estimated 30 million people in more than 600 cities marched to oppose President Bush's plan for a "pre-emptive war against Iraq." The coordinated actions, under the banner of "The World Says No to War," saw some of the largest demonstrations in recent history with three million marching in both Spain and Italy, close to a million taking to the streets of London and half a million protesters gathering in Paris and Berlin.

Despite the many obstacles placed in the way of organizers of New York City's protest, about 500,000 gathered within sight of United Nations headquarters to voice their opposition to the Bush administration's drive for war. Although the rally was mostly peaceful, some 300 protesters were arrested resulting from confrontations with police, triggered organizers say, by the city's refusal to authorize an orderly march from the U.N. to Central Park and the penning-in of demonstrators far from the speakers platform.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with veteran protest organizer Leslie Cagan, who coordinated the New York City rally with the group United for Peace and Justice and long time activist Angela Davis, one of the speakers at the demonstration.

For more information on the ongoing campaign to oppose a U.S. war with Iraq, contact United for Peace and Justice at (646) 473-8934 or visit their Web site at http://www.unitedforpeace.org

Related links:

Not In Our Name http://www.notinourname.org
International A.N.S.W.E.R. http://www.internationalanswer.org
Labor Against War http://www.uslaboragainstwar.org
September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows http://www.peacefultomorrows.org
Voices in the Wilderness http://www.vitw.org

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