Anti-war protesters take to Dublin streets
Saturday, 29 September 2001 22:30
An estimated 1,000 anti-war protesters marched through Dublin's City Centre today to voice concern at Western governments' responses to the recent attacks on the US. Before the march, speakers including Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, representatives of the Globalise Resistance group and members of the Workers' Solidarity Movement addressed the crowd.
They all expressed clear condemnation of 11 September's attacks on Washington and New York, but were also critical of the military build-up in the Middle East which has followed the attacks.
Speakers criticised what they called the militaristic policies of the US and UK governments. Ireland's decision to allow American planes to refuel at Shannon Airport was also condemned, with Joe Higgins promising to do everything in his power to raise the issue in the Dáil on Monday.
En route form the Central Bank to the GPO, marchers held a sit down protest on O'Connell Bridge, during which they observed one minute's silence for the victims of the terrorist attacks in the United States.
The march was organised by the anti-Capitalist umbrella group, Globalise Resistance, to show solidarity with a similar rally in Washington.
Thousands of anti-war protesters have marched through streets of Washington calling for restraint in the war against terrorism. The march was mainly peaceful although a handful of protesters clashed briefly with the authorities.
