Tens of thousands rally in London against military occupation of Iraq

Published: 2003-10-01

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- A protest against the military occupation of Iraq drew tens of thousands of marchers to London's Trafalgar Square. British members of the international Catholic peace organization Pax Christi were among the faith groups, trade unions and environmental organizations that took part in the Sept. 27 rally. "We support this demonstration because, as those who would be called children of God, we must be peacemakers," said Stewart Hemsley, British chairman of Pax Christi. The rally was organized by the Stop the War coalition, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and the Muslim Association of Britain. Police said about 20,000 people took part in the protest, while organizers said 100,000 participated. Hemsley called on rally participants to continue working for peace and to ignore those who say "we have no alternative" to war.

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