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18th January 2003: 2,500 march through city in protest at plans to invade Iraq

On 18th January 2003 an estimated two and a half thousand people marched through Liverpool, showing their opposition to the George Bush and Tony Blair’s drive to war against Iraq.

Liverpool Friends of Palestine had originally called the demo on the steps of St Luke’s (bombed-out) church, Berry Street, where they hold monthly vigils on the first Saturday of every month. Liverpool TUC gave their backing, and followed by Merseyside Stop the War Coalition. Publicity went out on 7th January.

Marchers arrived at the Victoria monument at the top of Lord Street, and heard the Jimi Hendrix version of ‘The Star Spangled Banner’, James Larkin Republican Flute Band playing ‘Fields of Athan Rye’, before speakers from the on-strike Fire Brigades Union and the Liverpool Muslim Society amongst others urged the crowd to stop the war before it started. A statement of support from San Francisco dockers was read out, which ended with the words: “Defeat the bloody imperial warmongers! Victory to the international anti-war movement!”

BBC report: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2670527.stm
Labournet report: www.labournet.net/ukunion/0301/18jliv2.html
Leaflet distributed on the day: www.labournet.net/events/0301/18jan1.doc
Statement from San Francisco dockers: www.labournet.net/world/0301/18jan1.html
World Socialist Website report: www.wsws.org/articles/2003/jan2003/demo-j21.shtml