No War on Iraq – Peace Rally 13 October

On 13 October the Victorian Peace Network* called what turned out to be one of the largest rallies held in Melbourne in recent years, to protest against plans for a war on Iraq, and reject any Australian involvement in such a war. The ABC reported an estimated 30,000 people marched from the State Library to the Treasury Gardens:

The march turns from Collins into Spring   Street

The march turns from Collins into Spring Street

Scenes at the rally before the march:

At the State Library

Another view of same

Banners supporting people of Palestine

Among the many groups represented there was strong support for the people of Palestine

No war on Iraq banner of statue of Joan of Arc

Someone found a use for this statue of Joan of Arc

The march sets off

The march sets off

The vanguard in Collins Street

The vanguard in Collins Street

Jacob Grech and Paddy Garrity amongst others in the lead

The march was also led by some familiar figures

Part of the scene in the Treasury Gardens

In the Treasury Gardens – at this point, marchers were still entering Spring Street

*The VicPeace website is no longer active, but an archive is preserved at http://www.carbonequity.info/vicpeace/index.html (The link there to a website neisti actually refers to the early version of Melbourne Protests being archived here.)