Duroyan Fertl & Bill Mason
Emergency actions took place in five Australian cities in opposition to the US-led carnage in Fallujah.
More than 200 people braved the rain and wind to protest in Sydney, in an action organised at short notice by the Stop the War Coalition. Speakers from the Socialist Alliance and the Greens, and human shield Donna Mulhearn addressed the crowd, highlighting the misery that has been brought upon the Iraqi people since the invasion in March last year. They criticised the US for the use of "overwhelming force" against an entire city of a quarter of a million inhabitants, making tens of thousands of people refugees and turning their homes into rubble.
Beginning at Town Hall, the protesters marched through the rain to the US Consulate where the rally wound up with calls for a larger protest to put an end to the war crimes being perpetrated by the occupying forces. The next protest will be held at noon, November 20 at the US Consulate in Martin Place.
In Brisbane, around 100 people gathered on the steps of King George Square. "There are terrorists in Iraq, and they're wearing US army uniforms", Gary MacLennan, long-time left activist and lecturer at the Queensland University of Technology, told the Speak out against US slaughter.
"This massacre will come back to haunt the US," MacLennan added. "The Iraqi and Arab nation will rise up to take their revenge. Australia has always been involved in foreign imperialist wars over many years, but Australians have also always protested against these wars. The link between our protests and those around the world will form a chain of opposition which can overcome the aggressors."
A number of speakers condemned the US atrocities in Fallujah, and called for ongoing demonstrations demanding withdrawal of US and Coalition forces from Iraq.
Around 100 upset and angry Melbournians came to a November 12 protest to hear speakers from the Socialist Alliance and the Greens. On the same day, 50 people protested in Perth, receiving much support from passers-by. And against a backdrop of police threats to close it down, the Socialist Alliance held a speak-out against the war in Hobart's main mall. Four pages of a petition against the occupation of Iraq were signed.
From Green Left Weekly, November 17, 2004.
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