Keeping up the Protests



Ten thousand took to the streets in both Glasgow and Edinburgh today, and there were further demos in Aberdeen, Dundee, Inverness and Skye.

In acts of mass civil disobedience people blocked streets. In Glasgow police have hemmed in demonstrators and made several arrests. In Edinburgh 5 were arrested and are to be held till Monday despite police assurances that they were to be released this evening.

It is clear that the movement has not stepped back because of the start of fighting. We will not stop while innocent people are being slain in Iraq.

More Pictures: 1 :: 2 :: 3 :: 4 ::

Scotland Says Stop the Killing



Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Scotland, joining the millions across Britain and throughout the world. In acts of peaceful civil disobedience they blocked streets and protested. In Glasgow there were school students strikes and walkouts, demonstrators filled George Square, blocked streets and blocked the motorway. In Edinburgh thousands marched from Edinburgh Castle to block Princes Street, bringing the city centre to a halt for an anti-war rally. And in towns across Scotland from Shetland to Dumbarton people took to the streets to say no.

Images of Thursday March 20th in Edinburgh

Thousands bring cities to standstill as conflict starts The Herald

Images of the anti-war protest by Edinburgh youth and students on Wednesday 19th March, can be found here

SHERIDAN CONDEMNS PAY DEAL IMPOSED ON FIREFIGHTERS AND CALLS ON EXECUTIVE TO REJECT IT FOR SCOTLAND

Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan today condemned John Prescott for his statement that he would impose a settlement on the firefighters.

He said,

“This is an insult to the trade union movement coming from someone who pretends to be a friend of the trade unions. It is also a joke coming from a government which is bombing Iraq to supposedly bring them democracy. It seems the firefighters are to be denied their democratic rights to withdraw their labour. I am today placing a motion and raising a point of order in the Parliament to call on the Scottish Executive to refuse to follow this crass path.

Instead of imposing a pay deal which has been overwhelmingly rejected by FBU members, they should be providing the money to settle the FBU claim. This dispute has already lost the UK and the Scottish Executive more than it would have cost to settle the strike. It is time we paid the firefighters instead of attacking them in the press and imposing lousy deals on them.”

MOTION: That this Parliament condemns the Deputy Prime Minister’s intentions to impose a pay deal on the firefighters in England; and calls on the Scottish Executive to refuse to follow this route and instead to properly fund the firefighters’ pay claim and allow a free and negotiated settlement.
[ENDS]
For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or Hugh Kerr on 0131 348 5631/07713 063647

Walkout! Demonstrate

The bombing has started. We need to show our opposition today.

What you can do:

12 Noon - Walkout of work/school/college - rally in your town/city centre.

• In Edinburgh - Parliament Square


• In Glasgow - George Square

5 pm - If you can't leave your workplace get to the same venues at 5 pm for more protests.

More Info

Children leave school to protest

In Edinburgh, around 3000 pupils walked out at lunchtime from a number of schools, including James Gillespie's High, Boroughmuir High, Drummond High, Broughton High, Portobello High, and the Royal High School. A smaller demonstration was staged in Glasgow. The Herald

BBC NEWS | Scotland | Children march against war

Hundreds of Scottish schoolchildren have taken to the streets of Edinburgh to protest against war with Iraq.

The youngsters, from schools throughout the capital, converged on Princes Street for the lunchtime protest.

They were addressed by broadcaster and activist Mark Thomas and Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) leader Tommy Sheridan. BBC

SHERIDAN CALLS FOR EMERGENCY DEBATE ON WAR

Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist Party MSP and Convenor, today called on the Presiding Officer to allow an emergency debate on British involvement with the USA’s bombardment of Iraq.

David Steel, Presiding Officer replied to Tommy Sheridan’s request for an emergency debate, indicating that he has the power to select a specific motion for an emergency debate. Tommy Sheridan has called for as many MSPs as possible to sign up for such a debate in the Parliament tomorrow.

Tommy Sheridan said,
“The massacre in Iraq is not only immoral and unjust, but it is also now illegal. Scottish troops should not be putting their lives on the line to advance American oil interests in the Gulf. George Bush and his brutal crew represent the most right-wing administration in US history. Not only should Britain refuse to be in bed politically with these people, but we should also be condemning them as war criminals for dropping 3,000 bombs and missiles on innocent men, women and children.”

Tommy Sheridan has lodged the following motion for emergency debate in the Scottish Parliament:

“That the Parliament believes the American-led bombardment of Iraq is unjust, immoral and illegal and that Scottish and British troops should not be involved in this massacre.”

For more information, contact Tommy Sheridan on 07887 795075 or Hugh Kerr on 0131 348 5631/07713 063647

SSP Says Stop the War!

See the link above for details of actions to take when the war starts and a statement from the SSP on our tasks in the period ahead.

Edinburgh anti-war protesters stormed the castle and blocked the main street Indymedia

Children join last-ditch pleas for peace

Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist party leader, and Tony Benn, the veteran left winger, last night urged children, students and workers to walk out in protest once the war begins.

The Glasgow MSP called on the Scottish public to engage in a campaign of civil disobedience to show their opposition to the war. He also wants the Scottish Parliament to hold an emergency debate and oppose the imminent action.

He said: "Now we know they are going to war tomorrow. They have withdrawn their resolution at the UN as they know it would be defeated.

"There is no cover now for all those Labour MSPs who hid behind the UN. I am asking for the parliament to hold an emergency debate and to oppose the war. But I also ask all schoolchildren and college and higher education students to leave their schools and colleges to demonstrate against the war.

"I ask all workers to leave their workplaces and join the anti-war protests. And I ask all citizens in Scotland to join the demonstrations that will occur all over Scotland and to be prepared to engage in peaceful civil disobedience. Our slogan must be 'When they strike, we strike'."

Mark Thomas, the satirist, will join Mr Sheridan and other protesters in Edinburgh city centre tomorrow to feign death on the firing of the traditional one o'clock gun at the castle. The Herald

Edinburgh Evening News - Pupils shut the Castle in protest against war

EDINBURGH Castle was closed down today after an anti-war protest on the esplanade.

Castle chiefs decided to close the gates as a safety precaution after around 50 young people gathered outside to protest against the war.

A source at the Castle said: "There was a protest outside the Castle on the esplanade. As a safety precaution for staff and visitors it was decided to close down the Castle."

A police spokeswoman said: "Around 40 or 50 young people were involved in an impromptu anti-war protest outside the Castle. They were gathered at the entrance to the Castle and police were in attendance."

One eyewitness said: "There are loads of schoolchildren here with banners. Two mounted police are up at the Castle and they have shut the car park.

"I think they are letting visitors out of the tunnel near the front gate."

A Historic Scotland spokeswoman said: "We are aware of a demonstration outside the Castle and are awaiting further information."

It is understood that the protest was organised by schoolchildren, who were also planning to stage a demonstration on Calton Hill at 4pm today.

Meanwhile, anti-war protesters today threatened to bring Edinburgh to a standstill on the day war breaks out in Iraq. The Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition is planning a massive show of civil disobedience, blocking main roads into the city centre and urging workers to strike in protest against the war.

Spokeswoman Catriona Grant said earlier today: "We will be stopping Edinburgh. We hope this will be the biggest show of non-violent civil disobedience Edinburgh has ever seen."

In a separate move, students have pledged they will walk out of school and college on Wednesday for an anti-war protest at the Scottish Parliament.

One Drummond High School pupil who is helping to organise the school walk-out said: "I can’t vote for four more years but I want my voice heard and so do other young people."

On the day of war, veteran Labour politician Tony Benn has urged people to walk out of work, college or school for an hour. Edinburgh Evening News