Half-A-Million
March in Anti-War Rally in Italy
by Luke Baker
FLORENCE, Italy - More than half a million anti-war protesters from
across Europe marched through this Italian Renaissance city on Saturday
in a loud and colorful demonstration denouncing any possible U.S. attack
on Iraq.
Peace activists march during
a demonstration against war organized by the European Social Forum in
Florence, Italy, Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002. Hundreds of thousands of people
from across Europe are marching through Florence to protest a possible
war against Iraq and the negative impact of globalization amid stepped-up
security in the Tuscan capital. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Brimming with anti-American feelings and riled by a tough new U.N. resolution
to disarm Iraq, young and old activists from as far afield as Russia
and Portugal joined forces for the carnival-like rally, singing 1970s
peace songs.
"Take your war and go
to hell," read one banner, in a forest of multi-colored and multi-lingual
placards.
"Drop Bush, not Bombs"
read another. Some placards depicted President Bush as Hitler and Italian
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as Mussolini.
Organizers said the rally,
planned months ago, gained added relevance by Friday's U.N. Security
Council resolution which gave Iraq a last chance to disarm or face almost
certain war.
The protest, involving children
as well as grandmothers, marked the climax of the first European Social
Forum, a four-day meeting of anti-globalization campaigners from all
over Europe. Delegates discussed topics from debt-reduction to support
for the Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
Florence has been virtually
shut down for the November 6-10 period, with the State Department advising
its citizens to steer clear of Italy's art capital over concerns that
violent, anarchist groups might infiltrate the demonstration.
Authorities estimated that
some 450,000 protesters flooded Florence's streets for the march on
a chilly autumn afternoon.
But by dusk, the crowed had
swelled to over half a million, many of them arriving on specially chartered
trains and buses. Organizers estimated the gathering at around one million,
making it one of Italy's biggest ever anti-war rallies.
Despite the large crowds,
the march was largely peaceful and no incidents were reported.
"The atmosphere here
is wonderful. Absolutely perfect. It shows that a new young left is
emerging," said Stavos Valsamis, a 27-year-old Greek activist from
Athens.
Children climbed on their
parents' shoulders to get a view of the sea of crowds marching along
the seven-km (4.5-miles) route. Many clapped as marchers passed by.
"This is amazing, it's
so impressive," said 12-year-old Bianca Ronglia as she watched
with her family from the side of the road. "I'm happy and proud
that my city is holding this."
Anti-globalization activists look at a US flag, whose stars have been
replaced with logos of multinational companies, displayed at the entrance
of the old Leopolda Station in Florence, Italy, Friday, Nov. 8, 2002.
An anti-globalization meeting organized by the European Social Forum
started Wednesday and is expected to bring over 450,000 anti-war activists
who will take to the streets for a massive demonstration on Saturday.
(AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
BIGGER THAN GENOA
The march was bigger than
a protest at a G8 summit in Genoa last year, when 300,000 demonstrators
took to the streets and an orgy of violence left one protester dead
and hundreds injured.
Some 7,000 police officers
were on call but security forces kept a low profile along the rally's
route. No incidents were reported.
The rest of Florence was
a ghost town with most shops in the art-rich historical center pulling
down the shutters for fear of vandals. However, the city's famed museums
remained open and offered free entry to the few tourists around.
Many Florence residents deserted
the city for the four days of the forum, prompting criticism from those
who stayed behind.
"I'm really disappointed
by my fellow Florentines -- it really shows very little faith. This
whole event has been very calm, in fact the city has been much calmer
and friendlier than usual," said housewife Maria Briccoli, 37.
As well as university-age
students, older political activists and thousands of trades unionists,
Saturday's throng also included Italian World War II partisans and a
U.S. Vietnam war veteran who marched in the first row of the crowd.
While Friday's U.N. resolution
gives the Security Council a central role in assessing the new arms'
inspection program for Iraq, it does not require the United States to
seek U.N. authorization for war in case of violations.
"I think it's a scandalous
resolution," said Sean Murray, 29, a member of Workers' Revolution.
"It proves once more that the U.N. is a puppet of America, Britain
and France."