Protests against the invasion of Afghanistan

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In 2001, a number of small protests against the invasion of Afghanistan occurred in various cities and college campuses across the United States and other countries in the first days after the start of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan. These protests were mainly peaceful, but larger protests and general strikes occurred in Pakistan. Some of these were suppressed by police with casualties among the protesters. In both Islamic and non-Islamic nations, protests and rallies of various sizes against the attack on Afghanistan took place.

Many protesters felt that the invasion of Afghanistan was unjustified aggression and would lead to the deaths of many innocent people by preventing humanitarian aid workers from bringing food into the country.

1 October 7, 2001
2 November 18, 2001
3 October 28, 2006
4 References

[edit] October 7, 2001

On October 7, there was a peace rally of ten to twelve thousand people in New York City. The group marched from Union Square to Times Square, cheering the police at the beginning of the march. The list of about twelve speakers was cut to three or four by the police, and they were herded at the end into a one-lane-wide "bullpen".

[edit] November 18, 2001

On November 18, 2001 the Stop the War Coalition (StWC) organized an anti-war demonstration. This was the coalition's first national demonstration in London under the slogan "Not in my name". The organizers estimate that 100,000 people took part. This included a large number of British Muslims. As the demonstration fell during Ramadan, StWC organized an element of prayer in the final rally to allow pious Muslims to observe their faith. Headlining speakers included human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger, left-wing Labour Party veteran Tony Benn, then Labour MP George Galloway, and speakers from the Muslim community. Though the demonstration was small compared to the later demonstrations the coalition would go on to organize against the Iraq war, it was the largest peace demonstration for more than fifteen years.

[edit] October 28, 2006

On October 28, 2006, peace groups from across Canada organised rallies in 40 cities and towns. Themes of the demonstrations included demands that the troops be brought home from Afghanistan and demands that the mission of the Canadian Forces in that country shift from a combat role to a peace keeping and humanitarian presence.

Participation varied from city to city, with some demonstrations attracting a handful of people, and others attracting several hundred[1].