Campaigners from across the country will this Saturday join with anti-war military families and serving soldiers to call for an end to the war in Afghanistan. The demonstration, organised by the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop the War Coalition and the British Muslim Initiative will express the view of majority of the public who support the call to ‘Bring the troops home’.
Marchers will assemble at Speaker’s Corner in Hyde Park at 12 noon, before marching at 1pm towards Trafalgar Square, where a rally will be held. This will include readings of the names of those who have died in the conflict. A press call will be held at Speaker’s Corner at 11.30am on Saturday where serving soldiers, ex-soldiers and military families will speak out against the war.
Eight years on from the invasion of Afghanistan the death toll amongst British troops is higher than ever, with an awful price being paid in the blood of Afghan civilians. The majority of the British public know that the presence of foreign soldiers is no answer to the complex problems of Afghanistan. With two thirds of people wanting British forces to withdraw, now is the time for the Government to bring the troops home.
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Vice Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said “The war in Afghanistan has no clear war aims, is clearly escalating and spinning out of control and can only impact on Pakistan and the whole of South Asia. NATO forces have been in Afghanistan for 8 years and the result appears to be increased drug production, high levels of corruption and terrible losses of life on all sides, civilian and military. Now is the time to change policy and bring the troops home to prevent NATO involving itself in a Vietnam style quagmire.”
Amongst those leading the march will be Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, a serving soldier facing court martial for refusing to return to Afghanistan; Paul McGurk, who last month left the army because he could no longer continue fighting in the unjustifiable war in Afghanistan as well as relatives of current and former troops, including Peter Brierley, who earlier this month refused to shake Tony Blair’s hand because it “has my son’s blood on it”.
Timings and further details are contained in the notes below.
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For further information and interviews please contact Ben Soffa, CND’s Press Officer, on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859
The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) is one of Europe’s biggest single-issue peace campaigns, with over 35,000 members in the UK. CND campaigns for the abolition of all nuclear weapons everywhere.
For more information or to place interview bids with the military families attending the demonstration contact Brendan Montague at brendan@hacksandflacks.net or 07590 030 201
Times on Saturday 24th October:
11:30 – Press call with soldiers, ex-soldiers and military families, Speaker’s Corner, Hyde Park
12:00 – Demonstration assembles Speaker’s Corner, Hyde Park
13:00 – Demonstration moves off along the following route: Speaker’s Corner, Park Lane, Piccadilly, Lower Regent Street, Charles II Street, Haymarket, Cockspur Street, Trafalgar Square
14:30 (approx) – Rally commences in Trafalgar Square