Press release: Thousands attend Cork anti-war march

national | miscellaneous | news report Monday March 10, 2003 05:10 by Cork Anti-War Campaign corkantiwar at hotmail dot com

PRESS RELEASE FROM CORK ANTI-WAR CAMPAIGN

THOUSANDS ATTEND CORK ANTI-WAR DEMONSTRATION ON SAT., 8 MARCH

Organisers estimate that about 4,000 people participated in a large anti-war demonstration in Cork city on Saturday, 8 March. Several hundred UCC students and staff marched from the university to join the protest, which saw representation from across the community and all walks of life.

The protest was organised by the broad-based Cork Anti-War Campaign, and among the speakers at a rally and concert in Emmet Place afterwards were Kathleen Lynch TD (Labour Party), Dan Boyle TD (Green Party), Joe Higgins TD (Socialist Party), Senator Brendan Ryan (Labour Party), Mary Kelly (ex-Shannon Peace Camp), and Latif Silharden (from the Kurdish community in Ireland). Music was provided by John Spillane, Hank Wedel and Open Kitchen, Head Over Heels, and Eoin Coughlan.

According to Dr Fintan Lane, chairperson of the Cork Anti-War Campaign: "We were delighted with the turnout, which shows that the anti-war movement continues to gather pace in the Cork region. We now have local groups in areas such as Ballyphehane and Ballincollig, as well as a Cork Teachers Against the War, a Cork Trade Unionists Against the War, and a group in UCC."

Dr Lane continued: "Most Irish people oppose this planned war on Iraq and also the misuse of Shannon airport by US warplanes. It is important that the government understands that there is a great deal of anger among anti-war activists about refuelling at Shannon, and that anger is growing as they ignore protest after protest."

He concluded: "We would like to thank all those who turned out on Saturday and call on people to get involved in the campaign against this immoral war."

END OF PRESS RELEASE