Four Years of Blood
by Adam Maynard and Mark Mitchem
Saturday March 17, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Stop the War Coalition Melbourne and Civil Rights Defence lead anti-war march to commemorate fourth anniversary of the US led invasion of Iraq.
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Four Years of Blood
March 17th signaled the fourth anniversary of the US led invasion of Iraq. To commemorate this Stop the War Coalition Melbourne (STWC) and the Civil Rights Defence (CRD) held a march from the Victoria State Library to the Victoria Liberal Party's head office. The March called for the withdraw of Troops from both Iraq and Afghanistan along with the immediate release of David Hicks.
Numbers for the march were estimated at a thousand people with a broad cross section of Melbourne represented. While members of the various Socialist movements made up the most obvious component of the march they where accompanied by a number of civil rights groups, Muslim organizations, Student Union representatives and many concerned members of Melbourne's community.
Speeches held at the State Library highlighted the horrendous conditions that Iraq citizens now live under. Veronica Tslamia of the Muslim women and men's group told the crowd that "bodies lie rotting in the streets, while women must shift through the mortuaries for pieces of their loved ones to bury". A impassioned plead from a member of the Federation of Australian Muslim Students and Young people (FAMSY) called on the Australian people to put pressure on the government to withdraw troops from Iraq "The rape and torture rooms of Saddam's regime still exist under this so called democracy" he said "These troops will not leave without your support". Colin Mitchel of the CRD spoke of the continued struggle faced by David Hicks and his family. The last speaker, Tim Damny of the Melbourne STWC, finished with a fiery tirade aimed at the Australian and American governments "we will not let you continue to kill and slaughter in our names" he cried "650,000 innocents is more than enough blood for all our hands".
Along the march route many members of the public expressed their support for the march while questioning it's effectiveness. "it's fantastic that these people are willing to stand up and do something" Jessica a student from RMIT noted "but I seriously doubt that it will have any real effect". This was echoed by Garry of Melbourne Central "I can see what they are trying to do but isn't it just a waste of time really? The government doesn't care what they have to say".
Mohammad a member of FAMSY had a different opinion "only through the support of people and actions like these will we see the withdraw of troops from Iraq" he replied before cautioning that "even if a Labour government is elected, pressure will need to be maintained to ensure that Labour follows through and removes Australian troops from Iraq".
After marching through the centre of Melbourne the march concluded at the Victorian Liberal party headquarters with a second set of speakers. Further actions are planned with a "Free David Hicks" march planned by the CRD for the 21st of April and a public meeting "What next in the anti-war movement?" to be held by STWC on the 26th of March.
For further information see:
Stop the War Coalition Melbourne www.melbournestopwar.org
Civil Rights Defense www.civilrightsdefence.org
Marchers walk down Swanstone Street.
by Adam Maynard and Mark Mitchem
Saturday March 17, 2007 at 10:24 PM
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Tim and Sasha lead the call.
by Adam Maynard and Mark Mitchem
Saturday March 17, 2007 at 10:24 PM
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Marcus addresses the crowd.
by Adam Maynard and Mark Mitchem
Saturday March 17, 2007 at 10:24 PM
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A valid question.
by Adam Maynard and Mark Mitchem
Saturday March 17, 2007 at 10:24 PM
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