LONDON, 11 March 2003 — The start of war in Iraq would trigger instant protest rallies and a campaign of civil disobedience around the world by a burgeoning peace movement determined to outdo its Vietnam-era counterparts.
Anti-war groups say activists in every continent are poised to down tools, organize sit-ins, picket government offices, chant outside US embassies, block military sites and rush to public squares the minute the first bomb is dropped.
After an initial free-for-all of spontaneous protests, they will coordinate a series of escalating demonstrations in major capitals and encourage acts of civil disobedience.
“More than 6,000 people have already signed up and committed themselves to show civil disobedience when the war breaks out,” said Manfred Stenner, of German anti-war group Resist. “We want to send a strong signal. We want to show that we are willing to face personal and legal consequences for our actions.”
While the protests will be global, they are sure to be more militant and massive in the West than in the Arab world where nervous authorities keep a tighter rein on protesters.
Although they have tolerated some of late, Arab governments generally discourage demonstrations for fear protesters may turn on the authorities, according to Hala Mustafa, editor of Al-Ahram Political Quarterly Democracy Review in Egypt.
“They don’t want some elements to take advantage of such protests to cause riots or express anti-government sentiments.”
Global numbers will hinge on the outcome of the diplomatic showdown at the United Nations: An Anglo-American attack without international approval is likely to spark vast protests, while UN endorsement would mute public outrage.
In the West, today’s anti-war activists see themselves as the creators of a movement potentially bigger and socially wider than those against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and against US deployment of Cruise missiles in Europe during the 1980s.
“It’s much bigger than the (British anti-nuclear) CND movement, it’s much bigger than Vietnam,” said Andrew Burgin, of Britain’s increasingly influential Stop the War coalition.
“The breadth of this movement is enormous. You’ve even got a divided ruling class. The British state is shitting itself.”
In the biggest coup for the movement so far, millions took to the streets on Feb. 15 denouncing US and British leaders George W. Bush and Tony Blair as warmongers.
Although pictures of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein are sometimes waved at Arab rallies, Western protesters generally insist they are not apologists for him. Many agree he is a despot but say that in itself does not justify war.
If war breaks out, anti-war groups first want demonstrators to gather spontaneously in public squares, then rally on the evening of the first day, before congregating again in major capitals the first Saturday afterwards.
“If the bombs do start falling, we call on you...to get out on the streets immediately and visibly express strong opposition to this war and demand peaceful, non-violent alternatives,” reads the Web site of United for Peace and Justice, a coalition of US protest groups.
Other US events planned include student walkouts, candlelight vigils, strikes, a funeral-themed protest in Las Vegas, a mass meditation outside the United Nations building, blockades outside the White House and a Texas “peace picnic.” US embassies and military sites will be targeted.
