Last Friday night, 28 March, the Socialist Party (SP – CWI in Australia) led a demonstration of over 500 outside a Liberal Party function where the Prime Minister, John Howard, was guest speaker.

Melbourne protesters block prime minister’s function

The Howard government fully supports the war in Iraq and has sent 2,000 troops to assist the US and British forces’ invasion. We attempted to stop Howard getting to the event and the bravery of protestors meant it took three attempts by the Federal and State police for Howard to sit down (one hour late) for his meal!

The SP organised the PA and speakers’ list at the protest. Participants heard representatives of Greenpeace, the Greens, CFMEU (furniture trades union), Youth Against War, other left wing parties, as well as SP members. The role of SP in this event has increased our profile in the anti-war movement.

The rally got big TV and radio coverage, as well as being reported in The Herald-Sun, Melbourne’s tabloid daily paper.

The next day, Saturday 29 March, over 30,000 people marched in Melbourne in the latest Victorian Peace Network rally (SP is an affiliate to the Network).

SP members raised over $800 worth of sales of anti-war literature and stickers etc over both events and many people expressed an interest in the party. We organised a truck for the Saturday rally, which was used as a stage for a live band.

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