Marches and rallies are being held world-wide this weekend in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle.

Marches and rallies are being held world-wide this weekend in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle

9/27/03

Marches and rallies are being held world-wide this weekend in solidarity with the Palestinian struggle. On this third anniversary of the Second Palestinian Intifada, protests against the occupation of Palestine and Iraq in more than 40 countries:

In London, organizers estimated that 100,000 people turned out, chanting "Troops out of Iraq and Blair out of Number 10," and "George Bush Uncle Sam, Iraq will be your Vietnam."

In Paris, dozens of French, Palestinian and Arab non-governmental organizations (NGOs) demanded Israel and the U.S. pull out their troops of the occupied Palestinian and Iraqi territories. Thousands marched in Paris, where a wide banner read, "American Imperialism: Take your bloody hands off the Middle East." Others held posters that read "Wanted: George W. Bush -- War Criminal."

Thousands of Turks took to the streets in two separate demonstrations on Saturday to denounce the U.S.-led occupation of neighboring Iraq and Israel's policies against the Palestinians. "Freedom to Palestine, long live the global Intifada," chanted the demonstrators.

In downtown Cairo, activists and journalists staged a peaceful protest against the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq and Israeli attacks on Palestinians.

In Warsaw, 100 young people protested the Polish military presence in Iraq, marching with banners saying "Down with the global U.S terrorism" and "We don't want to occupy with Bush."

An estimated 1,200 demonstrated in Brussels, while about 400 people marched through downtown Berlin. In Stockholm, police said about 250 people staged a demonstration.

In the Spanish capital Madrid thousands protested against Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar's support for the war.

Up to 1,500 protesters marched through Dublin today to demonstrate against the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Crowds gathered in Parnell Square, which is named after the Irish revolutionary Charles Stewart Parnell, and made their way across the River Liffey and up to government buildings. A retired army commandant returned military medals awarded to him by the Defense Forces and the United Nations in protest at what he described as Ireland's role in the Iraqi war.

South Koreans took to the streets here Saturday to urge the government to reject a controversial U.S. request to send troops to Iraq and avoid becoming an "accomplice in the invasion." "U.S., Leave Iraq," read one banner. "Don't make young Koreans murderers," another said.

Some 5,000 people marched in the streets of the Lebanese capital Beirut on Saturday to express support for the Palestinians and to protest against the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. The procession, led by about 50 children from the dozen Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon, came to a halt outside the United Nations building in Beirut.

Tomorrow, thousands more will take to the streets, protesting against global occupation.

In New York City a coalition of labor, community groups, activists, and students, along with thousands of others will gather Sunday, September 28, at Columbus Circle at 1 pm and march to the Israeli Mission.