Thousands march on US embassy in London calling for end of strikes in Iran | Protest
Thousands of protesters marched to the US embassy in central London, calling for an end to US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
Groups including the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Stop the War, Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Muslim Association of Britain, Palestine Forum in Britain and Friends of Al Aqsa led the march towards the embassy after meeting at Millbank near Westminster on Saturday afternoon.
Many protesters were carrying Iranian and Palestinian flags, as well as portraits of Iran’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, who was killed in the opening attack of the war last Saturday.
Some waved signs reading “Stop Trump’s Wars,” “Stop War on Iran,” “Stop Arming Israel” and “No War on Iran.”
Your party’s MP Zarah Sultana told protesters outside the US embassy in Vauxhall: “We will not be ignored again.”
Recalling the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled dictator Saddam Hussein, he told the crowd: “We were told at the time 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 the world, but the reality was very different.”
The former Labor MP who represents Coventry South added: “Baghdad’s children deserve to grow up.
“And when we marched against the Iraq war 23 years ago, we were ignored.
“We will not be ignored again, because history has proven them right, and today we raise our voices for peace, justice and a world where governments learn from the past.”
The statement of former Labor Party leader Jeremy Corbyn, who could not attend the protest, was read to the crowd in front of the embassy.
It read: “Hundreds of thousands of us protested against the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003 and were ignored, but today we are here to say loud and clear: do not drag Britain into another illegal war.”
Corbyn, now an independent MP, said in a statement: “For too long, Britain has blindly followed the US in its devastating interventions around the world.
“We are here to advocate something different, a foreign policy based on cooperation, equality and sovereignty.”
He added: “Forever war is not a game. It has real-life humanitarian consequences and the US and Israel must be held accountable for the reward they receive.”
Between 5,000 and 6,000 protesters marched from Millbank to the U.S. embassy on Saturday afternoon, according to a police officer who walked alongside the crowd.
In an update on X, the Metropolitan police said they arrested a woman during the protest.
Police said: “A woman in her 60s was arrested on suspicion of inciting racial hatred in relation to a banner.”
He later added: “The Hands Off Iran rally is now over. There have been three further arrests: one for possession of an offensive weapon and the other for racially aggravated public order offenses related to theology.”
“A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of violent disorder in relation to an incident in Maida Vale yesterday.”
Ahead of the event, the Met stepped up patrols and introduced conditions requiring protesters to stay on the designated route and finish the post-march rally by 5pm.
As protesters calling for an end to US and Israeli attacks on Iran made their way to the embassy, scores of people holding Israeli flags stood near Millbank.
Many protesters were heard shouting “shame on you” and “murderers” at people holding Israeli flags, while some responded with “you are wrong” and “you are in denial.”
Demonstrators leading the march were heard chanting: “We are the people. We will not be silent. Stop the bombing now, now, now, now.”
Daniela Costa, a 30-year-old Brazilian student living in London, said: “I am Brazilian. I came here to show solidarity to both Iran and Palestine, as well as Cuba and Venezuela.”
He added: “I feel like we can’t live like it’s just business as usual right now.
“I expect this protest to show the UK government that it does not have the public support to join the war in any way, such as supplying arms to the US or providing its military bases.”
Asked why he attended the protest, Martin Perry, 58, from Northampton, said: “Because actions against Iran are against international law, and this is a series of events, decisions made by America and Israel, that destroy international law.”
He added: “I’m here today to signal to Keir Starmer that the public is not in favor of war against Iran and does not want our forces to engage in an illegal war.”
Organizers of the demonstration said a march “against the far right” would be held in central London on March 28.
