Posted on 03/10/2003 12:23:56 PM PST by knighthawk
Anti-war protesters crammed on to the Gateshead Millennium Bridge last night to prevent a Royal Navy vessel from leaving port.
Over 100 demonstrators chanted anti-Bush and Blair songs, draped banners over the landmark and set off flares and sirens as they braved the elements to stop HMS Example from leaving the Tyne.
However, no attempt was made by the Navy to move the vessel, and there was little activity from HMS Calliope, where it is docked.
The event marked a weekend of demos in the North-East which included a picket outside Durham North-West MP and Chief Whip Hilary Armstrong's home.
There was also a protest by Women in Black, an international network of women opposed to war, who organised a vigil at Grey's Monument to rally anti-war support.
Last night, families stood side by side with hardened protesters as they called for an end to the war against Iraq.
Organiser Phil Capon, from the Tyneside Stop the War Coalition, said: "Some people have chained themselves to the railings on the bridge and others have just come down here to lend us their support in the effort to stop the war.
"People are now so fed up they are willing to get arrested to make there point and there are things like this happening all over the country.
"Everyone who came down here is united for peace.
"There are demonstrations in Manchester taking place and we even have local people up in Consett demonstrating outside their local MP's place."
He said the fact that HMS Example did not attempt to leave dock was secondary to the support given by the people who turned out to support the anti-war message.
Two of the youngest demonstrators were Robert and Rosie Brockway, of Acomb, Hexham, aged 13 and 10 respectively.
They were brought by mother Jane Shewell.
Robert said: "There is no reason for us to go over to Iraq and kill innocent people."
Two women who chained themselves to the Millennium Bridge gave their names only as Helen, 24, of Newcastle, and Penny, 44, of Northumberland.
"We are prepared to be arrested to make our point that it is wrong to go to war," said Penny.
Nobody was available for comment from HMS Calliope last night.
A Northumbria Police spokesman said there had been no arrests at the Gateshead Millennium Bridge demo, but officers had monitored the event using CCTV.
No, stupid. We are not going over there to kill innocents, but to remove the guy who is responsible for the killing of thousands and thousands of innocent people. But I guess 'Mr. anti-war' doesn't care about any Kurds gassed by they guy he is trying to protect.
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