Thousands of protesters calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran have marched to the US embassy in central London.
Groups together with the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop The War, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the Muslim Association of Britain, the Palestinian Forum in Britain and Friends Of Al-Aqsa led the march to the embassy on Saturday afternoon, after gathering on Millbank, close to Westminster.
Many protesters had been carrying Iranian and Palestinian flags in addition to portraits of Iran’s former supreme chief, Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in the opening strike of the struggle final Saturday.
Some waved placards studying “Stop Trump’s Wars”, “Stop the War on Iran”, “Stop Arming Israel” and “No War on Iran”.
Outside the US embassy in Vauxhall, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana informed protesters: “We will not be ignored again.”
Recalling the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, she informed the group: “Back then, we were told that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.
“We were told that war would bring peace and democracy.
“We were told that the war would protect Iraqis and protect the world, but the truth was very different.”
The former Labour MP, who represents Coventry South, added: “The children of Baghdad deserve to grow up.
“And 23 years ago, when we marched against the Iraq war, we were ignored.
“We will not be ignored again, because history proved them right, and today, we raise our voices for peace, for justice and for a world where governments learn the lessons of the past.”
An announcement from former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn, who couldn’t attend the protest, was learn to the group outdoors the embassy.
It learn: “In 2003, hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq, and we were ignored, but we are here today to say loudly and clearly: do not drag Britain into another illegal war.”
In the assertion, Corbyn, now an unbiased MP, mentioned: “For too long, the UK has blindly followed the US as it indulges in catastrophic interventions around the world.
“We are here to defend something different, a foreign policy based on cooperation, equality and sovereignty.”
He added: “Forever war is not a game. It has real-life human consequences, and US and Israel must be held accountable for their prize.”
Between 5,000 and 6,000 protesters marched from Millbank to the US embassy on Saturday afternoon, in line with a police officer who was strolling alongside the group.
In an replace on X, the Metropolitan police mentioned it arrested one girl in the course of the protest.
The power mentioned: “A woman in her 60s has been arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a placard.”
It later added: “The Hands off Iran rally has now concluded. There were three further arrests. One for possession of an offensive weapon and another for racially aggravated public order offences in relation to a chant.
“A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to an incident which occurred yesterday in Maida Vale.”
Before the occasion, the Met stepped up patrols and imposed circumstances requiring protesters to remain on a chosen route and end their post-march rally by 5pm.
Several teams of folks holding Israeli flags had been standing on the aspect of Millbank as protesters calling for the end of US and Israeli strikes on Iran had been on their approach to the embassy.
Many protesters may very well be heard shouting “shame on you” and “murderers” to the folks holding Israeli flags, to which some replied “you’re wrong” and “you’re in denial”.
Demonstrators main the march may very well be heard chanting: “We are the people. We won’t be silenced. Stop the bombing now, now, now, now.”
Daniela Costa, a 30-year-old Brazilian scholar residing in London, mentioned: “I’m from Brazil. I just came here to show solidarity, both to Iran and Palestine, but also to Cuba and Venezuela.”
She added: “I just feel that we can’t just live as if it’s just business as usual at this moment.
“I expect that this protest will show the UK government that they don’t have popular support to participate in the war in any way, such as providing weapons or providing their … military bases to the US.”
Asked about why he attended the protest, Martin Perry, 58, from Northampton, mentioned: “Because the acts against Iran are against international law, and it’s just a pattern of events, decisions taken by America and Israel, that are destroying international law.”
He added: “I’m here today to signal to Keir Starmer that the public aren’t for the war against Iran, and don’t want our forces going into, being involved in an illegal war.”
The organisers of the demonstration mentioned a march “against the far right” will happen on 28 March in central London.
