Sydney Stop The War Coalition held a street-theatre protest in Darling Harbour on July 29 outside a $1000-a-head speaking engagement for former British PM and war criminal Tony Blair.
The protesters held a mock trial of Blair, who was charged, tried and convicted of making fraudulent excuses for the invasion of Iraq, the murder of a million Iraqi people, profiting from the proceeds of crime and other crimes against humanity.
“Tony Blair you can't hide. We charge you with genocide", the protesters shouted. One person called on the police protecting the meeting to "do their duty and arrest Blair the war criminal" instead.
Jim McIlroy reports that “Blair lied, a million died: shame on you” was one of the main chants of about 20 protesters Blair’s Australian tour outside the Brisbane Convention Centre on July 28.
The demonstrators addressed the well-dressed patrons entering the venue for Blair's $500 a head dinner, to give his “war criminal’s” view on the Middle East and world politics.
Protest spokesperson Hamish Chitts said: “Tony Blair has the blood of millions of people on his hands. He is a mass murderer who should be rotting in a jail cell, not jet-setting around the world earning millions.”
Inquiries in Britain have shown that Blair conspired with the US administration of George W Bush and knowingly lied to the world to justify the invasion of Iraq. The invasion caused more than one million deaths, created four million refugees, and left countless Iraqis maimed and traumatised.
Chitts said: “It was growing evidence of these lies that forced him to resign as prime minister in June 2007, but his infamy hasn't ended there. Blair was rewarded for his crimes by being appointed Middle East envoy for the United Nations, European Union, United States and Russia.”
The protesters made their voices heard very loudly, chanting, “Tony Blair, you can't hide. You supported genocide” and “this is what we're fighting for. No racism, no war.”
Despite efforts by police to move the protest to the other side of the road, demonstrators held their ground.