Against Terrorism, Against War
Melbourne Protests for Peace
An index of protests from September to December 2001.
Stop the War
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The crashing of planes into the World Trade Centre in New York, and the Pentagon in Washington, on September 11, 2001 is to be condemned as a crime against humanity. The perpetrators of this horror should be pursued and brought to justice through the United Nations and under international law.
Instead we see the USA Government intent on vengeance, and launching a sustained attack on one of the most impoverished and war torn countries - Afghanistan. The war on Afghanistan is an abrogation of international law and justice and is clearly illegal. The Howard Liberal / National Party Coalition Government has committed Australia to fully support, politically and militarily, the USA's act of vengeance outside of international law. The Labor Party opposition fully supports the Government on this issue. For International legal issues read what the Australian Section of the International Commission of Jurists have to say on the Appropriate Response of the UN to the Attacks on the USA.
Meanwhile the 'War on Terrorism' is being used as an excuse to introduce draconian laws which threaten democratic rights in the USA, UK, Canada, and in Australia (New ASIO Powers threaten Democratic Rights) and many other countries. Members of the Australian Legal proffession are concerned (A Police State is not the answer) with the forshadowed anti-terrorist legislation. Some suggest Conscription in Australia is a real possibility.
There are many arguments beining put forward that Bush and executive members of the USA administration and the CIA were complicit to varying degrees in the terrorist actions on September 11:
Now it seems the USA is about to imitate the hardline stance of Australia of imprisoning refugees in Pacific concentration camps. There is speculation that the USA is constructing a prison on the island of Tinia near Guam to hold enemies of the new world order. Read about when ‘Anti-terrorist’ legislation meets the ‘Pacific solution’ -- and it’s not pretty.
Read what an Australian futurist has to say on the September 11 terrorist attack at www.richardneville.com.au and what might be written about these tragic events in 2051.
Melbourne Protests:
- Sunday 16 September: Melbourne Peace Vigil Photos
2 photos of the Peace Vigil in the Melbourne City Square. A symbol of mourning for the deaths caused by US Foreign Policy, and a protest against the declaration of war by President Bush. Retalitory Violence will only lead to more civilian deaths. 'Collateral Damage' = civilian murder. More Photos. Comentary on Protests: A new anti-war movement
Peace Rally 16 September
An attentive and solemn crowd
- Sunday 23 September: Media bullies suppress news about peace movement
Australia is witnessing the historic birth of a new peace movement, protesting against the Bush-Howard plan to devastate the women and children of Afghanistan. The corporate news media are unfairly limiting their coverage of this peace movement, although they are giving heaps of coverage to the Bush-Howard war preparations. Report and photos.
- Sunday 30 September: Thousands rally for Peace - Melbourne
About 3,000 people rallied for peace in the City Square. Photos. Commentary: A new peace movement emerges in Melbourne
Peace Rally 30 Sept
"Justice not War"
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Peace Rally 30 Sept
"Peace"
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- Wednesday 3 October: Melbourne has 2 peace rallies within 3 days
A lively and colorful rally against war and racism was held in Melbourne's City Square at 5pm today by the O3 Alliance. The rally was covered on Channel 7 and 9 news at 6pm but it was ignored by Channel 2 at 7pm.
- Monday 8 October: Melbourne responds to Bombing with Peace Rally
At short notice, about 1,000 people rallied in the Melbourne City Square at 5pm and marched for peace and against the violence and terrorism of war, sitting down at various city intersections for a few minutes. See photos of the crowd and banners. Commentaries - Melbourne rally says: "No more deaths" and Anti-War Rally in Melbourne and more Photos from October 8th anit-war rally
Peace Rally 8 October
"Stop the Bombing"
- Saturday 13 October: Stop Star Wars Melbourne Rally for Peace
Over a thousand people rallied at the Arts Centre in Melbourne to hear speakers, then marched on the U.S. Consulate in St Kilda Road today. Similar rallies took place in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide today. The march protested the militarisation of space and called for an end to war against Afghanistan. Photos.
Peace Rally 13 October
"No War No Racism Banner"
- Sunday 14 October: Over 500 protest american war
500 people assembled on parliament steps yesterday in Melbourne. The rally was organised by a coalition of women's organisations supporting Muslim women and refugees and calling for an end to the War.
- Saturday 20 October: Richmond (Melbourne Suburb) Rally Against the War
This was good rally. Activists set up a microphone and amplifier and for an hour, activists from various groups set up literature tables and addressed the shoppers and handed out leaflets. The speakers included two candidates for the local electorate in the forthcoming federal election - Pamela Curr (from the Greens) and Stephen Jolly (from the Socialist Party). The sitting member of parliament for that area --Lindsay Tanner (A.L.P.) - was also there (with an A.L.P. table) when the anti-war meeting began but he quickly absented himself from the scene as the speakers started their anti-war talk. Collected $40 for Peace Vigil.
- Sunday 21 October: ANSWER Stop War Rally.
500 people listened to speakers in the Melbourne City Square from 2pm. Speakers included Alison Thorne from the Socialist Alliance and Leigh Hubbard, Secretary of Melbourne Trades Hall Council. People then marched up to the Peace Embassy, a small tent city vigil set up on the lawns of the State Library, where further speakers and music were heard. Read a report. See Photos by Takver.
Peace Rally 21 October
"No Conscription - Stop the War"
- Vigil for Peace - 14 October to 2 November - 24 hours a day 7 days a week - State Library Lawns, Swanston and Latrobe streets, Opposite Melbourne Central Station. Following an agreement made with the library administration, the protesters have won the right to operate an information tent on the lawns between 9am and 9pm daily.
- Sunday 4 November: ANSWER Stop War Rally. (Act Now Stop War End Racism)
About 800 people rallied for peace and to stop the war, in the Melbourne city Square today. Several hundred had rallied with the Refugee Action Collective at Southbank against the treatment of refugees and had marched to join the anti-war rally, where they were addressed by several speakers. The rally then marched on Liberal Party Headquaters, then to the lawns of the State Library for music and entertainment. Similar demonstrations occurred in Perth, Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Peace Rally 4 November
"Stop the War Banner"
- Friday 9 November - Liberate the commons - Party and Protest
No to the WTO: No to the War Machine: No to the Economy of Violence. About 200 people taking part in a protest to liberate the commons, have claimed a space in Swanston St to set up a Peace Shop.
Report of protest. Another report. More Photos. Report of Infoshop in the CBD!
- Sunday 11 November - Remembrance Day Peace Vigil at the Shrine of Remembrance
A silent protest to remember the dead of all war. Stop the War - No More Killing. The ABC reported that "four anti-war protesters, braved cold and wet conditions to attend the ceremony."
- Sunday/Monday 2-3 December 9am - 5pm - National Student & Community Conference
at Melbourne Uni Student Union ....
Behind Bush's War Drive >>> Ideas + Strategies for opposing war + Racism
Organised by ANSWER: Act Now Stop War End Racism and National Union Students
- Sunday 9 December 12 noon - Human Rights Day - Protest against the War
Anti-war activists demonstrate around Australia. Thousands of anti-war protesters took part in rallies across Australia today to mark International Human Rights Day and to plead for peace in Afghanistan. In Melbourne several hundred people rallied at the City Square, before marching to a Human Rights Day Concert in the Treasury Gardens.
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Last modified: September, 2002
