BY
KERRYN WILLIAMS
CANBERRA On March 23-24, thousands of people will converge on parliament, in a national protest against the Coalition governments support for an attack on Iraq. Green Left Weekly spoke to James Vassilopoulos, one of the central organisers of the convergence. Vassilopoulos, who stood for parliament with the Socialist Alliance in 2001, is active in the ACT Network Opposing War (ACT NOW).
I think many people think that it is urgent and necessary to go to federal parliament in Canberra, to make a clear statement against war, Vassilopoulos explained. By the time of the protest, we will either be on the brink of war or the invasion will have begun and we will be calling for an invasion to stop.
On March 24, parliament will resume. It may well be debating a vote on war as people join the protest outside. Most Australians oppose this war, yet there has not even been a vote in federal parliament, Vassilopoulos argued. The 'mob will be coming to Canberra and [the government] will not be happy. Howard and US President George Bush might want to pretend that we dont matter, but people wont stop taking action while this war is a possibility or is being waged.
This will not be a war, it will be a slaughter. Its like putting heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson in the ring with one of the Wiggles and then giving Tyson a knife. Many Australians will be angry when 3000 cruise missiles crash into Baghdad, killing thousands and thousands of Iraqi people.
Vassilopoulos is urging all Australians to protest in their towns and cities if the invasion begins, and then to come to Canberra.
Although Vassilopoulos was initially nervous about how many people would be prepared to come to Canberra to protest, but the response has been overwhelmingly positive. I think there will many thousands at the Sunday [March 23] protest and quite a few thousand at the Monday protest.
Last year in Canberra there was a successful refugee-rights convergence of 2500 people. Washington has had a number of successful convergences, where people came from across the US. A bold initiative was necessary following the 1-million-strong protest in Australia on February 14-16.
According to Vassilopoulos, people are planning to come from 22 cities and towns. People from Armidale are likely to organise a car cavalcade that will travel the 12-hour journey. Large numbers are expected to come form Cooma.
Two-hundred people are expected from the Bega region. Two community radio shows, articles in the local newspaper and the widespread distribution of posters and pamphlets will advertise the event. Buses are organised to come from Bellingen, Newcastle, Wollongong and Sydney.
In the north-east region of NSW, near Byron Bay, television advertisements will include details of the convergence on Canberra. Other participants are expected from Batemans Bay, Bowral, Tamworth, Mudgee, Bathurst, Dubbo and Young, among others.
Anti-war activists from Brisbane are also planning to organise a bus, and even some Perth residents have expressed interest in attending.
In Canberra, 40,000 leaflets are being letterboxed across 45 suburbs. The teachers union has sent out rally publicity to 3000 of its members. The next step is to organise a more visible street presence in the lead up to the protest.
Vassilopoulos described the enthusiasm of many involved in the campaign. We have many excellent stories here of people helping out. One activist who came into the Resistance Centre to pick up leaflets is retired, has crook knees and has had a triple by-pass heart operation yet he is prepared to leaflet his street.
On the morning of March 23, Parliament House lawns will be dotted with stalls, and music will be playing as protesters arrive. The speaking platform will kick off at 2pm, before a march. Protesters will hear from Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard, as well as speakers from the Greens, Democrats and the ALP.
On March 24, ACT students will walk out of class to attend the protest at parliament. There will be a platform of speakers from Unions ACT, the Socialist Alliance, the student strike and the churches. A giant peace sign will be constructed.
The convergence is being organised by a broad coalition of groups including Greens, the churches, socialists and many individuals.
A team of ACT NOW activists is the driving force behind the convergence, Vassilopoulos explained. Without the initiatives and work of the Socialist Alliance it would have been almost impossible to organise the convergence. Socialist Alliance members put out the call to action, liaised with interstate groups, produced the publicity and organised its distribution.
Vassilopoulos believes the protests need to be escalated: Workers should stop work to stop the war, small businesses should boycott the payment of the GST and opposition parties should block the May 13 budget, which will fund the war.
From Green Left Weekly, March 19, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly
home page.