Short Report: Halifax Peace March : IMC Maritimes

After a few speeches mentioning the occupation, the plight of civilians living in Iraq today, and recent encroachments on civil rights, the contingent marched downtown. Specifically, the recent violation of a church as sanctuary was mentioned.

Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and El Salvador were not mentioned.

The march went off without incident, and ended in a somewhat anti-climactic dispersal when it arrived back at the commons.

There were some divisions between the protesters, as the police had contacted the Halifax Peace Coalition ahead of time to warn that a "violent" contingent of anarchists was planning on joining the march. Many anarchists pointed out that there has never been an incident of violence committed by anarchists or any other demonstrators in recent memory in Halifax, and called for solidarity with those on the receiving end of the criminalization of dissent--those who had been previously arrested at rallies without just cause.

The political differences between the main stream of peace coalition and the anarchists were, as usual, highlighted by the style and content of the protest. While most in the march started one of their chants with "1, 2, 3, 4, we don't want your racist war", the second verses varied: "5, 6, 7, 8 stop the killing stop the hate" and "5, 6, 7, 8, organize and smash the state".

Despite the diversity of political views (noticeably fewer people participated in chants calling for the end of the occupation of palestine), the end result was a unified stand against one specific occupation: that of Iraq, by the US.

Other military occupations and coup d'etats (attempted and successful) were not addressed by the crowd as a collective. Canada's participation (despite our government's apparent stand against the war) was also not addressed.

A non-confrontational, passive mode of protest also carried the day. Organizers even went as far as to attempt to keep protesters on one side of the street, and no attempt was made to directly challenge any power or positions of power. I'm not sure whether this stemmed from the lack of acknowledgement of Canada's continuing and historic role in the enforcement of empire (whether British or American), or the general "if we're peaceful, maybe they'll be" temperament. Both, I suspect.

All in all, the march was successful in making a clear, if limited, stand against the occupation of Iraq.

It was just a rough estimate, but I got at least 800, there were possinbly 100. definatley more than 400. Not bad when one realise that movments such as this anti-war movement has it;s ebbs and flows. we are currently seeing a bit of the downturn We must realise that last years march saw hundreds of thousands that took to the streets for the first time. worldwide was a great showing under the cicumstances. Now we must start planing for the next big day. Let's have it on heroshima day.
Aaron

800 commies huh? Big deal? There are 400,000 people in Halifax that weren't at your stupid protest. So how is that a successful protest. You've been protesting for many months now and the war is still going on. Face it, nobody of value gives a shit about your fucking lost cause. Go USA Go!