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On Saturday around 5000 people took part in the anti-war march from the Art College to City Hall. Although not as large a crowd as Feb 15^th the rabble certainly made their presence felt in the city centre as there was plenty of noise & colour intermingled with traditional Trade Union banners. The crowd walked/talked/danced/marched/chanted their way to City Hall where they were greeted by the roar of an air raid siren.

Here the stage was set for speakers who were generally quite good & occasionally rousing as people spoke of the illegal and morally unjustified war in Iraq, and the arrogance of Blair and Bush. After an hour it got a bit much. Not a single speaker gave any practical examples of action to take against the war. Likewise not a single speaker advertised a time or place where you could meet other people to organise anti-war activity. 

When the speeches were finished the crowd were asked to disperse & go home. Many people felt that it was not the time to disperse & remained on the road in front of City Hall. However with the threat of arrest being issued once again by police, & stewards continually asking people to leave the road, it wasn’t long before the road was cleared. Those who felt like the day shouldn't end continued the anti-war carnival for a few hours in the bandstand in Cornmarket with lots of music and dancing.

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