Students, pensioners and peace activists joined a march through Manchester to deliver another anti-war message to the government.
Leaders of the Stop The War Coalition and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament held up a giant banner which read 'troops out' at the head of the march, which organisers said was joined by at least 5,000 people.
Scores of police officers, some on horseback, were on duty as the protesters walked towards the conference centre.
A letter was handed in to a Labour Party official explaining that the demonstration was in protest at the government's foreign policy which organisers said merely followed that of the US administration.
The letter read: "We urge you to deliver on your commitment to withdraw all British troops from the illegal and catastrophic occupation of Iraq.
"We also urge you to recognise that the occupation of Afghanistan has involved Britain in an unwinnable and devastating war in a country where the population is clearly opposed to our presence."
Lindsey German, convener of the coalition which signed the letter, said: "Seven years after the war in Iraq a number of flash points have flared up in the Middle East, South Asia and now the Caucuses.
"Britain's role in the world has become dangerous and to criticise Russia for taking military action in Georgia is breathtakingly hypocritical."
Kate Hudson, chairwoman of CND, said: "We are here to tell the government that we want a foreign policy based on peace not war.
"We want our troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan and we are appalled at the prospect of the further spread of war.
"Most people around the world want peace but our government plans war policies. Change is needed."
Members of the Military Families Against The War whose relatives have been killed or injured in Iraq or Afghanistan were also at the head of the march.
It was the 21st national demonstration organised by the anti-war groups. Tweet
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They held a march in 2006, did that stop the war......I think not !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
When do the rest of the demonstrations start? Sorry,I haven't got time to provide a list but safe to say,if there was one per hour,they would take up the next four days!
Surely a better headline should be something like:
"56 million people don't attend meeting of the same old unwashed in Manchester."
What a joke.
'With, without, and after all it's what the fighting's all about....'
I am sorry, 5000 people, NO where near I am afraid, I think you boosted the numbers because we now really care.
I reckon you no more than 1000, I watched as you went past me on Oxford Road.
A lot of noise etc., though you might have had more people at castlefields, those who did not want to walk, but, hey you've got to have that feeling you are being supported.
I'm glad there was a protest, but it won't have any effect now. All the damage has been done. Iraq is in tatters, no WMD ever existed. It's cost 5 Billion up to now. God knows how may people have died.
I don't agree with the venture in Iraq, but this demonstration is almost the same day a hotel is blown up in the capital of Pakistan.
Pakistan has itself declared war on terrorism. The organisations responsible don't care if the people they kill are Muslim or not.
Pakistan needs our help on the other side of the border, and that's why it's right that ours and other troops are there at the moment.
I don't remember this lot on the street to help the people of Georgia. Pick and choose namby pamby muesli eaters.
40,000 turned up in East Manchester to watch Robinho. I know which matters most to the people of our great City.
Spanner: "I don't remember this lot on the street to help the people of Georgia" - actually, we marched yesterday for the people of ALL war-torn regions (as well as all other oppressed people)
Does anyone know what day the anti Congestion Tax demonstration is on ?
I 've seen these anti-war demos before. The vast majority of attendees fall into one of three categories:
1. scruffy, smelly, idle neo-hippy types who wear rags, still call people 'man' and live a life of pot subsidised by me and assorted other tax payers. My message to them: Grow Up!
2. frustrated, ugly, half-witted, grey-haired old people who trot along for company. Again, these are mostly people on inflated teachers pensions of benefits. My message to them: Learn to knit!
3. gobby, cocky, self-opinionated students who think they know everything about everything. Once again, genenrally living on credit and handouts from parents. My message to them: Learn a bit of discipline!
If you go on protest marches, decide which category you fit into and think about staying at home next time. Nobody is interested in your views!
The war has been and gone and the troops will be coming home, its just that they need to make sure that before they come home the general population of Iraq are safe, otherwise you could end up with some other aggressor similar to Hussein taking over. What a Pointless exercise.
"Spanner: "I don't remember this lot on the street to help the people of Georgia" - actually, we marched yesterday for the people of ALL war-torn regions (as well as all other oppressed people) "
Yeah right - I can see that from the banners.
The loony left that still populate these marches cry havoc if a Muslim country is attacked Iran, Iraq,Lebanon Palestine, Afghanistan but there is not a peep when Georgia was attacked. Not a lot to support the people of Darfur. Never a demo when it comes to the brutal regime in Zimbabwe. Nothing on July 7th 2005.
Don't try and kid me. "All oppressed people"
"think they know everything about everything."
Bean4 is that a case of pot calling the kettle black?
I was there. It was a great turnout.
The MEN has focused on the Iraq war, but there were people protesting about losing their jobs, the ruin of the NHS, rising debt, the media, the wars in Dafur and Georgia, poverty in the Uk etc
There were young, old, rich, poor all turning out.
At least these people who feel strongly about something got up off their backside and did something, rather than hiding behind a keyboard airing nasty little rants.
Something the MEN has failed to report on was the police who were calling themselves evidence gatherers!
Calling themselves evidence gatherers, they were taking names and photos of near everyone who was there to legally and peacefully protest.
There is something wrong with that!
And then there was Afghanistan with a dodgy lot living in the hills, who have been supply Europe's streets for years with heroin and killing god knows how many people, they also have an agenda, they are here now ripping off this country through fraud, it's that bad they even think that spain belongs to them. They also want to be a global entity.
I wonder if the anti-war demonstrators are really anti-war?
As someone who is really anti-war, I have heard many of the celebrity types who are involved with the so called anti-war movement call for interventions around the world by Britain and the US.
In an echo of the 19th. century 'white man's burden' the western powers are urged to take action in Darfur, Kosovo, Bosnia and many other parts of the world.
Many comlain about the war in Iraq as being 'illegal' so we must assume that if the UN security council had given the war it's blessing, that would be OK then. However it would remain an immoral war.
The same people did not object to the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999 although by their own definition it was an illegal war waged by NATO.
I think that most of the anti-war coalition would be in favour of so called 'humanitarian interventions' the sort of good wars that make them feel all fluffy and warm. However, whether it is a humanitarian intervention or a 'Not in my name' war it makes little difference to the people on the business end of the bombs and bullets.
Whilst the protesters may be well intentioned, I would be more convinced if they were against all wars and did not select which wars were good and which bad.
come on city: I have a feeling you fit in to all three of my categories.
So the 'protest' was a hotch-potch of malcontents with no single focus other than moaning about the regime or the police or anythiung else that appears to infringe their rights - man.
Being seen at these silly events do not do any good whatsoever. You just look silly.
CoC, don't bother replying - I'm not interested in your stilted views on any topic.
BTW look at the picture, everyone in it clearly falls into my three categories.
Beano
No, I dont fit into your outdated stereotypes. I wasn't in the protest but was passing by bridgewater hall after a business meeting.
I clapped when a war veteran passed by, took a few pictures (which clearly show a whole host of people with differing views - some even for the war), and because of this I had my picture taken by the police and was asked what I was doing there!
The MEN has printed pictures of a section of the crowds. There were many nurses protesting against the governments NHS problems. Where do these fit into your Daily Mail-esque stereotypes?
Beano
There were pensioners also holding placards about Labours disgraceful running of pensions and fuel heating - are these malcontent moaners also? Or should they get a wash and get a job?
Or maybe you shouldn't believe everthing you read in newspapers.
C o C: I do not believe for one minute that you were just "passing by bridgewater hall after a business meeting" by sheer chance.
No, I suspect that you hung around because you fancied being involved and were no doubt thrilled when you had your details taken by plod.
You seem to have the impression that people like me cannot have formed their own opinions but have to be spoon fed by the Daily Mail. Far from it. Life has informed my view of trouble causers.
I hope the police save all those details and use them wisely for the benefit of ordinary citizens.
BTW, if you don't want to get involved then next year, stay well clear of town during the opposition's annual conference - for that's whatthey will be by then.
Manchester Evening News it's on the streets six days a week. If I had my way it would be seven.
C.O.C,
So are you saying
1) Thousands of people attended a "moan about anything rally" rather than an anti-war rally or;
2) The organisers of the anti-war rally got people there under false pretences and it was the usual Socialist Worker/Respect anarchic trot through town.
Either way more people turned up to see City hammer Portsmouth by a resounding six-nil so on that basis I would say people care more about Robinho and Jo than Iran and Afghansistan.
Interesting that all the banners seems to have a brand even though they are supposed to be protesting about different things.
No doubt the silly trots were there, lazy idle good for nothing but chunner.