Protests against the 2011 military intervention in Libya
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Beginning on March 19, 2011, and continuing through the 2011 military intervention in Libya
, anti-war protests against military intervention in Libya were held in many cities worldwide.
2011 military intervention in Libya
On 19 March 2011, a multi-state coalition began a military intervention in Libya to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, which was taken in response to events during the 2011 Libyan civil war...
, anti-war protests against military intervention in Libya were held in many cities worldwide.
Brazil
- According to an article by Fabíola Ortiz on March 25 on the online magazine Upside Down World, two small protests were organized in BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
against the decision of military intervention in Libya.
Chile
- In response to the US military intervention in LibyaOperation Odyssey DawnOperation Odyssey Dawn was the U.S. code name for the US part of the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. during the initial period of 19–31 March 2011, which continued afterwards under NATO command as Operation Unified Protector...
, a demonstration was held in ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
's capital SantiagoSantiagoSantiago is the capital city of Chile. Santiago may also refer to:*Santiago *Santiago , a Spanish given name*Santiago!, a shortened form of the Reconquista battle cry "Santiago y cierra, España"...
on March 20 protesting the visit by Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
. Left-wing political parties, professors, students, human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
activists, and other Chilean peopleDemographics of ChileThis article is about the demographic features of Chile, including population density, ethnicity, economic status and other aspects of the population....
participated in the demonstration.
Greece
- On March 20, about 5000 supporters of the Communist Party of GreeceCommunist Party of GreeceFounded in 1918, the Communist Party of Greece , better known by its acronym, ΚΚΕ , is the oldest party on the Greek political scene.- Foundation :...
(ΚΚΕ), mainly high school and university students, protested outside the parliament buildingHellenic ParliamentThe Hellenic Parliament , also the Parliament of the Hellenes, is the Parliament of Greece, located in the Parliament House , overlooking Syntagma Square in Athens, Greece....
in central AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
against the government's support for the NATO-led intervention in Libya. They carried anti-government banners and placards that read "The imperialists out of Libya" and "US-EU-NATO kill people", shouted anti-intervention slogans and torched the flag of the European Union.
- On March 20, similar protest was held on the CreteCreteCrete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
. Communists marched to the Souda Bay naval baseSouda BaySouda Bay is a bay and natural harbour on the northwest coast of the Greek island of Crete. The bay is about 15 km long and only two to four km wide, and a deep natural harbour. It is formed between the Akrotiri peninsula and Cape Drapano, and runs west to east...
that provided command and logistics support to the NATO-led intervention. The protesters demanded the closure of the NATO base.
India
- On March 27, hundreds of MuslimIslam in IndiaIslam is the second-most practiced religion in the Republic of India after Hinduism, with more than 13.4% of the country's population ....
demonstrators, led by the Aba-Saleh Society, held a protest march in the IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n city LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
. The protest rally started from Dargah Hazrat Abbas and ended at Roza-e-Kazmain. Speaker of the demonstration Maulana Ameer Haider addressed the crowd denouncing the United States-led military action in Libya and Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
's involvement in BahrainBahrain' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
. The protesters chanted slogans against the US-led military forces and branded them as "killer of innocents".
Italy
- On March 26, Libyans residing in RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, the capital of ItalyItalyItaly , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, held a demonstration at the Republic PlazaPiazza della RepubblicaPiazza della Repubblica is a semi-circular piazza in Rome, at the summit of the Viminal Hill, next to the Termini station. On it is to be found Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri...
in central Rome to protest against the military intervention. The demonstrators held placards, displayed the flag of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, shouted slogans and displayed picture of Muammar Gaddafi.
Mali
- On March 25, thousands of MaliansDemographics of MaliThis article is about the demographic features of the population of Mali, including population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.-Population structure:...
demonstrated in BamakoBamakoBamako is the capital of Mali and its largest city with a population of 1.8 million . Currently, it is estimated to be the fastest growing city in Africa and sixth fastest in the world...
, the capital of MaliMaliMali , officially the Republic of Mali , is a landlocked country in Western Africa. Mali borders Algeria on the north, Niger on the east, Burkina Faso and the Côte d'Ivoire on the south, Guinea on the south-west, and Senegal and Mauritania on the west. Its size is just over 1,240,000 km² with...
, to protest against the NATO-led military operation in Libya. The crowd marched first to the French embassy and then to the embassy of the United States. Protesters shouted "Down with SarkozyNicolas SarkozyNicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
! Down with ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
!" The demonstration, organized by Islamic groups in the nation, brought traffic to a halt in Bamako city center.
Nicaragua
- From March 19 to March 24, three demonstrations were organized in NicaraguaNicaraguaNicaragua is the largest country in the Central American American isthmus, bordered by Honduras to the north and Costa Rica to the south. The country is situated between 11 and 14 degrees north of the Equator in the Northern Hemisphere, which places it entirely within the tropics. The Pacific Ocean...
to protest the military intervention. On the March 24 protest, which was the third protest since the beginning of the military operation in Libya, hundreds of supporters of presidentPresident of NicaraguaThe position of President of Nicaragua was created in the Constitution of 1854. From 1825 until the Constitution of 1838 the title of the position was known as Head of State and from 1838 to 1854 as Supreme Director .-Heads of State of Nicaragua within the Federal Republic of Central America...
Daniel OrtegaDaniel OrtegaJosé Daniel Ortega Saavedra is a Nicaraguan politician and revolutionary, currently serving as the 83rd President of Nicaragua, a position that he has held since 2007. He previously served as the 79th President, between 1985 and 1990, and for much of his life, has been a leader in the Sandinista...
marched in Nicaragua's capital ManaguaManaguaManagua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is the largest city in Nicaragua in terms of population and geographic size. Located on the southwestern shore of Lake Xolotlán or Lake Managua, the city was declared the national capital in...
. The rally, organized by Ortega's followers called Nicaraguan Solidarity Committee with Libya, started from the embassy of Libya and ended outside the headquarters of the United Nations Development Program. Leaders of the demonstration called the military intervention "imperialist military aggression backed by the UN." Protesters shouted "No war", "Yes to peace", displayed banners with pictures of Gaddafi, chanted slogans in support of Gadhafi, and attacked the United States.
Philippines
- On March 20, anti-war protest against NATO intervention in Libya was held in ManilaManilaManila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, the capital of the PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. Protesters burned a replica of the flag of the United StatesFlag of the United StatesThe national flag of the United States of America consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the canton bearing fifty small, white, five-pointed stars arranged in nine offset horizontal rows of six stars alternating with rows...
.
- On March 21, the Union of Catholic Asian NewsUnion of Catholic Asian NewsThe Union of Catholic Asian News is a news agency that covers matters of interest for the Catholic Church on the Asian continent. It was launched in Hong Kong in 1979. Since its foundation, it has become one of the largest Catholic news agencies in the world, as well as the largest in...
(UCAN) reported that peacePeace movementA peace movement is a social movement that seeks to achieve ideals such as the ending of a particular war , minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace...
organizations in the Philippines have joined Islamic protesters to condemn the UN-backed air strikes in Libya. Jolly Lais, spokesperson of the Muslim group Bangsamoro National Solidarity Movement (BANGSA) said, "This brazen military aggression betrays the double standard by which the United Nations uses". The left-wing political party Bayan MunaBayan MunaBayan Muna is a leftist political party in the Philippines.The motto of the party is "New Politics, the Politics of Change", against "traditional, elitist, pro-imperialist politics". Its platform includes the advocation of a government that progressively supports the working class, with meaningful...
called the airstrikes "a brutal act of armed intervention against a sovereign nation."
- On March 25, Philippine MuslimsIslam in the PhilippinesIslam is the oldest recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines. Islam reached the Philippines between the 12th and 14th century with the arrival of Muslim traders from Persian Gulf and the Malabar Coast in Southern India, and their followers from several sultanate governments in the Malay...
protested the military action after Friday prayer at a mosque in Manila. The anti-war protesters displayed pro-Libya placards that read "Appeal to U.S. Save Humanity Stop Bombing to Libya".
Russia
- RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n youth groups the Nashi and the StalStal (disambiguation)Stal may refer to* Stal , a Russian youth organization* Carl Stål , a Swedish entomologist...
demonstrated outside embassies of several western countries to protest the military intervention in Libya. They picketed in front of the BritishEmbassy of the United Kingdom in MoscowThe British Embassy in Moscow is the chief diplomatic mission of the United Kingdom in the Russian Federation. It is located at 10 Smolenskaya Naberezhnaya in the Arbat District of Moscow...
, French and AmericanEmbassy of the United States in MoscowThe Embassy of the United States in Moscow is the diplomatic mission of the United States to the Russian Federation. It is located in the Presnensky District in the city center of Moscow. Its address is: Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No...
embassies and the NATO mission in MoscowMoscowMoscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Oleg Sokolov, leader of the Stal, described the western intervention as "massacre" and said "it is clear that the West's real intention is not to bring democracy to Libya".
- Interfax reported the Molodaya Gvardiya (Young Guard of United Russia), a pro-KremlinKremlinA kremlin , same root as in kremen is a major fortified central complex found in historic Russian cities. This word is often used to refer to the best-known one, the Moscow Kremlin, or metonymically to the government that is based there...
youth group and the youth wing of the United RussiaUnited RussiaUnited Russia is a centrist political party in Russia and the largest party in the country, currently holding 315 of the 450 seats in the State Duma. The party was founded in December 2001, through a merger of the Unity and Fatherland-All Russia parties...
, have planned to picket embassies of the United States, Canada, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Italy, and France on March 23. Activists of the Molodaya Gvardiya took part in a flower-laying ceremony in front of the Libyan embassy in Moscow to commemorate the victims of the NATO attack in Libya.
Serbia
- On March 20, an anti-intervention protest was held in BelgradeBelgradeBelgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, the capital of SerbiaSerbiaSerbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. Protesters carried pictures of Muammar GaddafiMuammar GaddafiMuammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
and Josip Broz TitoJosip Broz TitoMarshal Josip Broz Tito – 4 May 1980) was a Yugoslav revolutionary and statesman. While his presidency has been criticized as authoritarian, Tito was a popular public figure both in Yugoslavia and abroad, viewed as a unifying symbol for the nations of the Yugoslav federation...
.
- On March 26, a second anti-intervention protests was held in the center of Belgrade at the Republic Square by Libyan students studying in Serbia and a Libyan-Serbian friendship organization. Protesters carried the flag of Libya and pictures of Gaddafi.
- On March 27, a third anti-intervention protest was held in Belgrade. About two hundred people, including Libyan students and expats, demonstrated at the ManježManježManjež Park is a public park situated in the centre of Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.It is located in the heart of the city, in an area bounded by the Nemanjina, Resavska, King Milan and Svetozar Marković streets. It derives its name from the French word manege from the Royal Horse Guards which...
park. The protesters chanted slogans like "Support from Serbia", "A true friend of Serbia and Libya", "Libya and Serbia", "NATO killers", displayed photos of Gaddafi, and carried placards opposing NATO.
Spain
- On March 20, 400 people protested in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
against the NATO intervention choiring "support to the Libyan people, nor NATO or Gaddafi" and "no more blood for oil". One of the organizers of the protest Pere Ortega believed the military intervention will make Gaddafi's posture stronger. The protesters carried banners that read "Nor tyrannies or occupations. Solidarity with the people in struggle".
- On March 24, several dozens of people protested in MurciaMurcia-History:It is widely believed that Murcia's name is derived from the Latin words of Myrtea or Murtea, meaning land of Myrtle , although it may also be a derivation of the word Murtia, which would mean Murtius Village...
under the banner "Yesterday Iraq, today Libya. No to humanitarian imperialism", exhorting to put an end to the allied intervention and Gadafi's repression. The protesters shouted "No more blood for oil" and "Stop the war".
- On March 26, thousands of people rallied in MadridMadridMadrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, the capital of SpainSpainSpain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. The march was organized by human rights groups and other social organizations under the banner "For the emancipation of the Arab nations: neither dictators nor imperialists". On the same day, an anti-war demonstration calling on governments to stop the air attack on Libya was held in front of the Rota Naval Base.
Sri Lanka
- Trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s in Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
from across the political spectrumPolitical spectrumA political spectrum is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes symbolizing independent political dimensions....
have voiced their opposition to the military intervention in Libya. On March 21, Sri Lankan trade union leader and the governor of the Western ProvinceWestern Province, Sri LankaThe Western Province is the most densely populated province of Sri Lanka. It is home to the legislative capital Sri Jayawardenapura as well to Colombo, the nation's administrative and business center.-Districts:Basnahira is divided into 3 districts:...
Alavi Mowlana said on a media briefing in ColomboColomboColombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
that Sri Lankan trade unions will organize protests in the country's largest city demanding the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and the Western nations to stop the military intervention. He said anti-imperialist organizations in Sri Lanka will organize the initial protest campaign against the United States-led military intervention at the Colombo Grand Mosque on March 25.
- On March 24, protests against the NATO-led air attacks were organized by political parties allied to Sri Lanka's presidentPresident of Sri LankaThe President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
Mahinda RajapaksaMahinda RajapaksaPercy Mahendra "Mahinda" Rajapaksa ; ; born November 18, 1945) is the 6th and current President of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. A lawyer by profession, Rajapaksa was first elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka in 1970, and served as prime minister from April 6,...
. Approximately 500 supporters of the National Freedom Front (NFF) participated in the demonstrations. Protester chanted anti-Western slogans, slogans against the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moonBan Ki-moonBan Ki-moon is the eighth and current Secretary-General of the United Nations, after succeeding Kofi Annan in 2007. Before going on to be Secretary-General, Ban was a career diplomat in South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in the United Nations. He entered diplomatic service the year he...
, waved placards and burned used tyres outside the United NationsUnited NationsThe United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
(UN) office in Colombo. According to BBCBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
correspondent in Sri Lanka Elmo FernandoElmo FernandoElmo Fernando was a popular announcer with Radio Ceylon and subsequently the Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation. Fernando was an excellent reader of the news. He joined Radio Ceylon, the oldest radio station in South Asia at a time when it was known as the 'King of the Airwaves' in the 1950s and...
, the demonstrators shouted slogans urging Ban Ki-moon to quit his post and "go home", and described the military intervention in Libya as war crimeWar crimeWar crimes are serious violations of the laws applicable in armed conflict giving rise to individual criminal responsibility...
s. National Freedom Front (NFF) leader and MPParliament of Sri LankaThe Parliament of Sri Lanka is the 225-member unicameral legislature of Sri Lanka. The members of Parliament are elected by proportional representation for six-year terms, with universal suffrage. Parliament reserves the power to make all laws...
Wimal WeerawansaWimal WeerawansaWimal Weerawansa is the leader of the political party Jathika Nidahas Peramuna . He was entered into politics through the JVP during the 1980s and rocketed to the position of Propaganda secretary...
, who's party organized the protest, said, "We are against the biased behaviour of the UN on Libya in favour of the US and Britain. The people of Libya should decide how to resolve their own internal problems." Banners that read "We condemn killing innocent civilians in Libya" and "Banki Moon go to hell" were seen in the demonstration. Protesters burned effigyEffigyAn effigy is a representation of a person, especially in the form of sculpture or some other three-dimensional form.The term is usually associated with full-length figures of a deceased person depicted in stone or wood on church monuments. These most often lie supine with hands together in prayer,...
of US presidentPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and beat it with shoes. Some of the protesters described Barack Obama as "murderer".
- On March 25, hundreds of Sri Lankan Muslims protested in Colombo. The demonstrators marched from the Jummah Mosque in KollupitiyaKollupitiyaKollupitiya is a major city in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The name Kollupitiya comes from the name of a chief from Kandy who had unsuccessfully attempted to dethrone the last king of Kandy. During the period of British and Dutch administration, a brewery had commenced in Kollupitiya which converted...
to the embassy of the United States on Galle Road in Colombo. Protesters held placards supporting Muammar Gaddafi and burned effigies of Barack Obama.
Turkey
- Approximately 100 people, mostly members of the Labor PartyLabour Party (Turkey)Labour Party is a political party in Turkey. Its chairman is Selma Gurkan. The party was founded as Emek Partisi in 1996. Due to its ban by the Constitutional Court, it was refounded with the name Emeğin Partisi , the same year...
(EMEP), demonstrated on March 20 outside the French Consulate General in IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
protesting against France, the US and other western countries. They shouted slogans like "Get out of Libya" and "Libyan people are not alone".
- On March 21, members of a left-wing Turkish political party protested outside the French embassy in Turkey's capital AnkaraAnkaraAnkara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
. The demonstrators held banner that read "Murderer France, get out of Libya!"
United Kingdom
- On March 20, anti-war protesters demonstrated outside LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
's Downing StreetDowning StreetDowning Street in London, England has for over two hundred years housed the official residences of two of the most senior British cabinet ministers: the First Lord of the Treasury, an office now synonymous with that of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and the Second Lord of the Treasury, an...
waving placards that stated "The lessons of Iraq and AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
have not been learnt". Groups that organized the protest included the Campaign for Nuclear DisarmamentCampaign for Nuclear DisarmamentThe Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament is an anti-nuclear organisation that advocates unilateral nuclear disarmament by the United Kingdom, international nuclear disarmament and tighter international arms regulation through agreements such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty...
(CND) and the Stop the War CoalitionStop the War CoalitionThe Stop the War Coalition is a United Kingdom group set up on 21 September 2001 that campaigns against what it believes are unjust wars....
(StWC). LabourLabour Party (UK)The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
member of parliament Jeremy CorbynJeremy CorbynJeremy Bernard Corbyn is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Islington North since 1983.-Early and personal life:...
and vice-president of the StWC, George GallowayGeorge GallowayGeorge Galloway is a British politician, author, journalist and broadcaster who was a Member of Parliament from 1987 to 2010. He was formerly an MP for the Labour Party, first for Glasgow Hillhead and later for Glasgow Kelvin, before his expulsion from the party in October 2003, the same year...
, took part in the protest. According to Corbyn, "This war is about oil, control and a message to the rest of the world and region that we can do it if we want to." Kate HudsonKate Hudson (activist)Katharine Jane Hudson is a UK academic and political activist.Kate Hudson is currently the General Secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Prior to her appointment to the post, she had served as Chair of the organisation from 2003 to 2010...
, chair of CND, called the military intervention "utterly reprehensible". Galloway described the intervention as "imperialist war-making." On the other hand, anti-Gaddafi protesters in London opposed the anti-intervention protesters.
- On March 21, approximately 150 people demonstrated in London in support of Gaddafi and protesting against the UK's intervention in LibyaOperation EllamyOperation Ellamy was the codename for the United Kingdom participation in the 2011 military intervention in Libya. The operation was part of an international coalition aimed at enforcing a Libyan no-fly zone in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which stipulated...
.
March 19
- On March 19, a demonstration in Times SquareTimes SquareTimes Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, that was originally meant to protest the Iraq War turned into a protest against the military intervention in LibyaOperation Odyssey DawnOperation Odyssey Dawn was the U.S. code name for the US part of the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. during the initial period of 19–31 March 2011, which continued afterwards under NATO command as Operation Unified Protector...
. U. S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
Charles B. RangelCharles B. RangelCharles Bernard "Charlie" Rangel is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1971. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the third-longest currently serving member of the House of Representatives. As its most senior member, he is also the Dean of New York's congressional delegation...
joined the protesters and expressed anger over the fact that the CongressUnited States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
was not consulted before the military strikes. Nearly 80 people attended the demonstration.
- Eric Ruder and Sam Bernstein of the SocialistWorker.org, published by the International Socialist OrganizationInternational Socialist OrganizationThe International Socialist Organization is a revolutionary socialist organization in the United States that identifies with the politics of International Socialism, a current of Trotskyism, and the Marxist political tradition that American socialist writer and activist Hal Draper called...
(ISO), reported anti-war protesters in Seattle, who gathered to protest the Iraq War on March 19, displayed signs that read, "U.S./UN/NATO--Hands off Libya!".
- On March 19, the anti-war group Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (A.N.S.W.E.R.) organized a protest in BostonBostonBoston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
claiming the United States and the United Nations attacked Libya for oilOil imperialism theoriesOil imperialism theories assert that direct and indirect control of world petroleum reserves is a root factor in current international politics.-Control of oil:...
.
- Hundreds of people demonstrated on ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
's Michigan AvenueMichigan Avenue (Chicago)Michigan Avenue is a major north-south street in Chicago which runs at 100 east south of the Chicago River and at 132 East north of the river from 12628 south to 950 north in the Chicago street address system...
on March 19. Protesters distributed anti-war leaflets and shouting "We need money for jobs, not the war. We need money for schools, not the war. We need money for health careHealth care in the United StatesHealth care in the United States is provided by many separate legal entities. Health care facilities are largely owned and operated by the private sector...
, not the war". Several speakers of the protest, that was originally held to mark the eighth anniversary of the Iraq War, condemned military action against Libya. Protesters chanted "No UN, no Qaddafi, let the people rule BenghaziBenghaziBenghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
!"
- The Workers WorldWorkers World (newspaper)Workers World is the official newspaper of the Workers World Party , a communist party in the United States. Sam Marcy led a faction out of the Socialist Workers Party and founded WWP in 1959; the first issue of Workers World was published out of New York City in March of that year.-Content:Workers...
, published by the Marxist–Leninist Workers World PartyWorkers World PartyWorkers World Party is a far-left political party in the United States, founded in 1959 by a group led by Sam Marcy. Marcy and his followers split from the Socialist Workers Party in 1958 over a series of long-standing differences, among them Marcy's group's support for Henry A...
(WWP), reported around 1500 protesters rallied at Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on March 19 and demanded an end to the military operation in Libya along with the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan. Protests in San Francisco marked both the first day of the US-led air strike in Libya and the eighth anniversary of the Iraq War. According to the Workers World, hundreds of protesters marched in Saint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
shouting "Do not expand wars against Libya!"
- A.N.S.W.E.R Conference showing systematic false reporting of NATO media about rebel activity and NATO bombing of Libya (reports from investigation groups in Libya)
March 20
- The Workers World reported, thousands of anti-war protesters, led by the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (A.N.S.W.E.R.), demonstrated in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
on March 20. According to the Workers World, "Libya was clearly on the minds of everyone there and news of the criminal attack electrified the demonstration."
March 21
- On March 21, anti-war protest was held in Minneapolis. Nearly 75 members of a local anti-war group called the Anti-War CommitteeAnti-War CommitteeThe Anti-War Committee is an organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The AWC organizes many protests, educational events and other related activities. They played a leading role in the movement to protest against the Iraq war at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St...
(AWC) demonstrated outside the Federal Building in downtown Minneapolis. A protest, organized by Dustin Krutsinger, was held by students at the University of IowaUniversity of IowaThe University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
in Iowa City. Sign reading "Obama No 'Change' From Bush" was seen in the demonstration. In Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, TennesseeMemphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, an anti-war protest was held where sign which read "Instead of War Invest in People" was seen.
- The Workers World reported, the International Action CenterInternational Action CenterThe International Action Center is an activist group founded by former United States Attorney General Ramsey Clark. It supports anti-imperialist movements around the world, and opposes U.S. military intervention in all circumstances....
(IAC) organized a demonstration at the Westwood in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Federal Building on March 20 to demand an end to the USOperation Odyssey DawnOperation Odyssey Dawn was the U.S. code name for the US part of the international military operation in Libya to enforce United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973. during the initial period of 19–31 March 2011, which continued afterwards under NATO command as Operation Unified Protector...
, FrenchOpération HarmattanOpération Harmattan is the codename for the French participation in the 2011 military intervention in Libya. It is named for the Harmattan, which are hot dry winds that blow over the Sahara, mostly between November and March. The United States' counterpart to this is Operation Odyssey Dawn, the...
and BritishOperation EllamyOperation Ellamy was the codename for the United Kingdom participation in the 2011 military intervention in Libya. The operation was part of an international coalition aimed at enforcing a Libyan no-fly zone in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which stipulated...
attack on Libya. According to the Workers World, members of the BAYANBAYANBagong Alyansang Makabayan or Bayan is a leftist political coalition in the Philippines. Bayan is associated with political parties Alliance of Concerned Teachers, Anakpawis, Bayan Muna, Gabriela Women's party, and Kabataan...
-USA, the All African Peoples Revolutionary Party — GC, Unión del Barrio and the Anti-Racist ActionAnti-Racist ActionThe Anti-Racist Action Network is a decentralized network of anti-fascist and anti-racists in North America. ARA activists organize actions to disrupt neo-Nazi and white supremacist groups, and help organize activities against fascist and racist ideologies. ARA groups also oppose sexism,...
(ARA) also participated in the demonstration.
- In Philadelphia, a protest was held by the Philadelphia Against War on March 21. Demonstrators gathered outside the Philadelphia City HallPhiladelphia City HallPhiladelphia City Hall is the house of government for the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At , including the statue, it is the world's second-tallest masonry building, only shorter than Mole Antonelliana in Turin...
and denounced the US/NATO military intervention in Libya. Protesters held signs that read "Not another U.S. war for oil" and "Stop U.S. attacks on Arab and African peopleAfrican peopleAfrican people refers to natives, inhabitants, or citizen of Africa and to people of African descent.-Etymology:Many etymological hypotheses that have been postulated for the ancient name "Africa":...
". The Workers World reported the protest was endorsed by the Brandywine Peace Community and the International Action Center (IAC).
- According to the Workers World, the International Action Center (IAC) organized a picket line on March 21 in the Times Square, New York City to protest the coalition air attack in Libya.
March 23
- According to the Liberation, a newspaper published by the Marxist-Leninist Party for Socialism and LiberationParty for Socialism and LiberationThe Party for Socialism and Liberation is a Marxist-Leninist political party in the United States. It was originally created as the result of a split within the ranks of Workers World Party , although their political line is nearly identical. The San Francisco branch as well as several other...
(PSL), protests were held at Austin, TexasAustin, TexasAustin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
and outside the New Federal Building in San Francisco. In the San Francisco protest, speakers included Henry Clark of the West County Toxics Coalition, who claimed the US attack Libya for its oil reserves, an Iraq War veteran, a representative of the Code Pink, Richard Becker of the ANSWER Coalition, and Saul Kanowitz of the PSL. Protesters chanted "Humanitarian aidHumanitarian aidHumanitarian aid is material or logistical assistance provided for humanitarian purposes, typically in response to humanitarian crises including natural disaster and man-made disaster. The primary objective of humanitarian aid is to save lives, alleviate suffering, and maintain human dignity...
, it’s a lie, bombs fall and people die!"
March 26
- On March 26, an anti-war demonstration, organized by the ANSWER Coalition, was held outside the White HouseWhite HouseThe White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
in the Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Protesters carried placards that read "$United States dollarThe United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
for Jobs and Schools, not War on Libya" and "Stop U.S. French and British War on Libya". Brian Becker, national director of the ANSWER Coalition, said, "United States has no right to bomb Libya. It has no right to pretend it's a champion of freedom and democracy. Only Libya can determine its destiny". According to the PSL's newspaper Liberation, the demonstration was attended by activists from different cities across the country, and by progressiveProgressivism in the United StatesProgressivism in the United States is a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century and is generally considered to be middle class and reformist in nature. It arose as a response to the vast changes brought by modernization, such as the growth of large...
organizations such as the FMLN-DCFarabundo Martí National Liberation FrontThe Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front is, since 1992, a left-wing political party in El Salvador and formerly a coalition of five revolutionary guerrilla organizations...
(Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front). Protesters in the demonstration chanted "War in Libya—We say NO! U.S. intervention has got to go!"
Australia
- A demonstration was held outside the US consulate in SydneySydneySydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
to protest against the Australian Government's involvement in military operation in Libya. The protesters slammed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, on the situation in Libya, is a measure that was adopted on 17 March 2011. The Security Council resolution was proposed by France, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom....
and said that true democracy cannot be implemented from the outside. The demonstrators called for an end to the attack on Libya. Journalist and filmmaker John PilgerJohn PilgerJohn Richard Pilger is an Australian journalist and documentary maker, based in London. He has twice won Britain's Journalist of the Year Award, and his documentaries have received academy awards in Britain and the US....
was present in the demonstration and addressed the crowd.
Ghana
- On April 5, a group called Friends Against Western Forces in Libya held a demonstration in AccraAccraAccra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, the capital of GhanaGhanaGhana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, to protest against the western interference in Libya. The protesters described the western military action in Libya as an attempt to colonize the country and an attack on IslamIslamIslam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
. The demonstrators, who rallied through some of the main streets of Accra, started the march from Kawukudi through the Kanda OverpassOverpassAn overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
and the French Embassy in the city. The protesters carried placards and shouted "death to the West". Alhaji Rahman, a leading figure of the group, presented a petition to the French Embassy calling for an immediate halt to the west's bombing in Libya.
India
- Libyan students studying in the IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n city AllahabadAllahabadAllahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
along with other people held a protest on April 4. The protesters claimed NATO forces are killing innocent civilians in Libya, and foreign nations have targeted the country for its oil.
- On April 3, hundreds of Muslims participated, at the call of Imam-e-Juma and Shia cleric Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, in a protest rally in LucknowLucknowLucknow is the capital city of Uttar Pradesh in India. Lucknow is the administrative headquarters of Lucknow District and Lucknow Division....
against NATO interference in Libya and Saudi Arabia's involvement in Bahrain. Imam of Tile Wali Masjid Maulana Fazlur Rehman Waizi condemned the US action in Libya and called for an immediate withdrawal of NATO forces.
Italy
- On April 2, associations, political parties and hundreds of pacifists demonstrated at Piazza NavonaPiazza NavonaPiazza Navona is a city square in Rome, Italy. It is built on the site of the Stadium of Domitian, built in 1st century AD, and follows the form of the open space of the stadium. The ancient Romans came there to watch the agones , and hence it was known as 'Circus Agonalis'...
in RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to protest against the NATO intervention. The protesters quoted from Nelson MandelaNelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, Bertolt BrechtBertolt BrechtBertolt Brecht was a German poet, playwright, and theatre director.An influential theatre practitioner of the 20th century, Brecht made equally significant contributions to dramaturgy and theatrical production, the latter particularly through the seismic impact of the tours undertaken by the...
and Albert EinsteinAlbert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was a German-born theoretical physicist who developed the theory of general relativity, effecting a revolution in physics. For this achievement, Einstein is often regarded as the father of modern physics and one of the most prolific intellects in human history...
, displayed banner that read "humanitarian warsHumanitarian interventionHumanitarian intervention "refers to a state using military force against another state when the chief publicly declared aim of that military action is ending human-rights violations being perpetrated by the state against which it is directed."...
do not exist", and waved rainbow-colored anti-war flags. Organizers of the protest rally included EmergencyEmergency (NGO)Emergency is a humanitarian NGO that provides emergency medical treatment to civilian victims of war, especially in relation to landmines. It was founded by war surgeon Gino Strada in 1994 in Milan ....
, an NGO founded by Gino StradaGino StradaGino Strada is an Italian war surgeon and founder of the UN-recognized Italian NGO Emergency. Emergency has operated in thirteen war-torn countries, including Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Cambodia, and the Central African Republic.- Biography :Dr...
. The demonstration rally was attended by musicians such as Andrea Rivers, Assalti Frontali, Frankie Hi-Nrg mc etc.
Serbia
- On April 9, the Serbian Radical PartySerbian Radical PartyThe Serbian Radical Party is a far-right Serbian nationalist political party in Serbia, founded in 1991. Currently the second-largest party in the Serbian National Assembly, it has branches in three of the nations that currently border Serbia – all former federal republics of Yugoslavia...
organized a meeting in Belgrade protesting against the NATO intervention in Libya. On the meeting, a letter was read from Vojislav ŠešeljVojislav ŠešeljVojislav Šešelj, JD is a Serbian politician, writer and lawyer. He is the founder and president of the Serbian Radical Party and was vice-president of Serbia between 1998 and 2000...
, the party's leader.
Spain
- On April 3, around 1500 people from 30 social organizations and political parties demonstrated in the streets of SevilleSevilleSeville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
against the war in Libya. The protesters read a manifest entitled "No to war. Not in our name. Solidarity with the peoples", which salutes "the mobilization of the Arab and North-African peoples for social rights and democratic liberties", condemns "the violent repression from the governments to peaceful demonstrations" and criticizes the corporate mediaCorporate media"Corporate media" is a term which refers to a system of mass media production, distribution, ownership, and funding which is dominated by corporations and their CEOs....
, because of "the absolutely intentional use of information relating to Libya's conflict, getting things out of context and shamelessly manipulating the facts, with the aim to imposing in the West a distorted vision of that country, leaving the ideological grounds well prepared to justify the intervention". They also condemn the participation of Spain in the war, and criticize the double standards of the countries who attack Libya with the excuse of the defense of the human rights of the Libyans, when "they had never support the defense of human rights of peoples subject to genocideGenocideGenocide is defined as "the deliberate and systematic destruction, in whole or in part, of an ethnic, racial, religious, or national group", though what constitutes enough of a "part" to qualify as genocide has been subject to much debate by legal scholars...
recognized by the UN, as the clear examples of the SahrawiSahrawiMost frequently in English language usage, the term Sahrawi is usually used in reference to populations from the disputed Western Sahara territory, sometimes with a nationalist connotation....
and PalestinianPalestinian peopleThe Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs , are an Arabic-speaking people with origins in Palestine. Despite various wars and exoduses, roughly one third of the world's Palestinian population continues to reside in the area encompassing the West Bank, the Gaza...
peoples".
- On April 9, more than 200 persons protested in Madrid against the war in Libya, under the banner "No to imperialist war. For the sovereignty of the peoples. No to NATO, bases out.", demanding the government the withdraw of Spanish troops in the "Odissey of the Dawn" operation, shouting "Imperialism is terrorism", "Zapatero killer" or "NATO no, Libya yes".
United States
- On April 2, a protest was organized in Minnesota, Minneapolis by the Anti-War CommitteeAnti-War CommitteeThe Anti-War Committee is an organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The AWC organizes many protests, educational events and other related activities. They played a leading role in the movement to protest against the Iraq war at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St...
(AWC), Emergency Committee to Stop U.S. War in Libya, Military Families Speak OutMilitary Families Speak OutMilitary Families Speak Out is a US based anti-Iraq war group.Military Families Speak Out was founded by two military families in November, 2002 to speak out against the planned US invasion of Iraq to try to prevent the invasion....
(MFSO), Students for a Democratic SocietyStudents for a Democratic Society (2006 organization)Students for a Democratic Society is a United States student organization representing left wing beliefs. It takes its name and inspiration from the original SDS of 1960-1969, then the largest radical student organization in US history...
(U of MN), Twin Cities Peace Campaign, Veterans for PeaceVeterans for PeaceVeterans For Peace is a United States organization founded in 1985. Made up of male and female US military veterans of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and other conflicts, as well as peacetime veterans, the group works to promote alternatives to war.-Foundation:The...
, Women Against Military Madness and other organizations, and was attended by more than fifty protesters. The demonstrators shouted anti-war slogans and displayed signs that read "U.S. hands off Libya," "Foreclose the war, not people’s homes," and "Say no to U.S. war against Libya." A statement issued by organizers said, "Eight years after the start of the war in Iraq, the U.S. has launched a new war in the Middle EastMiddle EastThe Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, this time against Libya. This is not a 'humanitarian intervention.' This is a war launched to try to control the oil resourcesOil reserves in LibyaOil reserves in Libya are the largest in Africa and the eighth largest in the world with as of 2010. Oil production was as of 2010, giving Libya 77 years of reserves at current production rates if no new reserves were to be found...
of the region." Meredith Aby of the Anti-War Committee (AWC) told the crowd, "Obama doesn’t have the right to decide for the Libyan peopleDemographics of LibyaDemographics of Libya include population density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the Libyan population.No complete population or vital statistics registration exists in Libya...
who their leader is or what they do with their oil. Those questions are for the Libyan people to answer and them alone."
Libya
- For three days up until 18 July 2011, a number of rallies were held in different parts of the country, each drawing crowds of up to 10,000 to show support for Gaddafi.
See also
- Protests against the Iraq WarProtests against the Iraq WarBeginning in 2002, and continuing after the 2003 invasion of Iraq, protests against the Iraq War were held in many cities worldwide, often coordinated to occur simultaneously around the world...
- Protests against the Vietnam WarProtests against the Vietnam WarProtests against the Vietnam War took place in the 1960s and 1970s. The protests were part of a movement in opposition to the Vietnam War and took place mainly in the United States-Protests:...
- Protests against the War in Afghanistan (2001–present)