NEWS: 17/2/03

SYDNEY JOINS TENS OF MILLIONS AROUND WORLD TO OPPOSE WAR

More than a quarter million people, or one in every 12 people in Sydney, crammed into Hyde Park and surrounding streets in an anti-war protest that stunned even the most optimistic.

The Sydney protest carrying the message "no war on Iraq; bring our troops home" followed record numbers in Melbourne and other parts of Australia and was part of an unprecedented global day of protest involving over 20 million people in over 600 cities and towns around the world.

Even as the march began people were still pouring in, mostly on foot, as train and bus services were unable to cope with the demand. In near chaos police and organisers were forced to divert marchers to the Domain, a larger nearby park.

Meanwhile back in Hyde Park speakers were cheered and applauded as they spoke out against the logic and morality of the war.

Genan Dadoun, spokesperson for the Muslim Women's Association, said: "We do not need fridge magnets to protect us from terror. If we want to reduce the amount of terror in the world, we should ... stop participating in the terror!"

Reverend Ray Richmond, of Sydney's Wayside Chapel, said that unlike any other single issue the Christian churches were united with "one voice of condemnation" against a war.

Never has there been such a massive outpouring of opposition to a war even before it officially began. As the final speaker John Pilger said, "Our movement is too big to be defeated."

The organiser of the event, the Walk Against the War Coalition is expected to build on this momentum leading towards the next major weekend of protest planned for 15/16 March with a focus on local actions.

ACMICA is a member of the Coalition and actively supports its work through local initatives.