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NoneUS War Veterans, Military Families and an Iraqi Doctor Speak Out Against the War (2004)

8th December 2004, Manchester, UK. Supporters of anti-Iraq war groups from the US, Britain and Iraq hold a rally against the Iraq war at the Unitarian Chapel, Cross Street, Manchester city centre.

The public meeting is entitled: "End the occupation of Iraq - Bring all the troops home". The line up of speakers is as follows:

Michael Hoffman: Michael took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and on his return to Pennsylvania became involved in the anti-war movement. He is co-founder and national coordinator of Iraq Veterans Against the War.

Lou Plummer: Lou served in the US army in the 80Âs and is the grandson, son, brother and father of men who have served or are serving the military. He is a leading spokesman for Military Families Speak Out and Bring Them Home Now.

Rae Street: Rae is a well known peace activist based in the North West of England. She has travelled the world as part of her campaigning. She is vice-chair of national Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

Dr Salam Ismael: Salam is general secretary of the Doctors for Iraq Society. He was in Iraq from the start of the war to June of this year. He worked in Fallujah during the first seige in April 2004.

John Rees: John is one of the co-founder members of the Stop the War Coalition. He has spoken at meetings across the country and in the Middle East

The meeting is chaired by Ron Senchek. Ron was in the US navy from 1965-68. He joined the movement against the Vietnam war when he left the navy.

The rally launches the Greater Manchester campaign for the 19th March national demonstration in London, which is part of a global day of action. This day marks the second anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Demonstrations will be taking place in other countries around the world on the same day.

Dr Ismael speaks movingly about the slaughter of two of his own doctor colleagues during the recent attack on Fallujah and reports that over 3000 Iraqis have been killed during the attack. He uses a Powerpoint presentation during his speech showing photos of atrocities committed during the attack on Fallujah.

The two US speakers speak of their brave and tireless work in the US opposing the war. Rae Street exposes the hypocrisy of British warmongers--drawing attention to the fact that Britain has its own weapons of mass destruction. Ron Sanchek, a Vietnam war veteran resident in Manchester, chairs the meeting and speaks about the pressing need to build for the London demonstration against the war on 19th March 2005. John Rees talks about how the anti-war movement has succeeded in keeping the war issue at the top of the agenda in the run up to the coming election.

After all that has happened in Iraq over the past year and half, the sight of people from countries that are on opposites sides of an ongoing war sharing the same platform is remarkable and inspiring. All the speakers receive a warm response and there is a determination to continue the struggle to end this insane war.

This particular clip shows Rae Street, national vice-chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), speaking at the meeting.
See also:

Broadband clip of Dr Salem Ismael's contribution to the rally

Broadband clip of Lou Plummer's contribution to the rally

Broadband clip of Michael Hoffman speaking at the rally

Broadband clip of John Rees' contribution to the rally

Broadband clip of Ron Sanchek summing up

Check out the website of Greater Manchester Stop the War Coalition.


This movie is part of the collection: Manchester Antiwar Videoblog

Director: None
Producer: Chris Edwards
Production Company: None
Sponsor: None
Audio/Visual: sound, color
Keywords: Iraq; war; fallujah; falluja; US; military; families; veterans; Manchester; UK; antiwar; anti-war; peace
Contact Information: chrisedwards2004@yahoo.com

Creative Commons license: Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike

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