ANTI-WAR protesters from St Albans district made a pilgrimage to London to join tens of thousands of demonstrators from all over the country on Saturday, October 13.

Massive crowds poured through the capital's streets, waving placards and chanting, in what is believed to be one of the UK's largest anti-war protests ever.

The turnout exceeded expectations to such an extent that the march from Hyde Park to Trafalgar Square had to start early to accommodate all the protesters.

Groups from the district that attended included the St Albans Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), the Herts Anti-War Coalition (AWC) and the Harpenden Quakers.

AWC organiser Peter Segal, of Harpenden, said: "There was a very large contingency from St Albans we all met up at the city station and travelled down to London together.

"I've been going to demonstrations for 20 years and this was one of the biggest I've ever seen. There was a very upbeat stop-the-war protest, with a lot of groups and a very buoyant atmosphere.

"We handed out leaflets on the train and lots of people expressed interest."

St Albans CND secretary Mr Laurie Gibson said: "I was heartened by the number of young people who were at the demo.

"They have not been taken in by all the propaganda and clearly realise that the current bombing of Afghanistan is counterproductive.

"We were also surprised by the amount of Muslims there we were pleased they came.

"We have had lapsed members ring up saying they want to join again. The longer this drags on, the more people realise how counterproductive it is."

The group, which believes non-violent methods should be used wherever possible in international relations, is calling for the US and UK governments to seek sanctioning from the United Nations before taking further military action.

Mr Gibson added: "The longer it goes on, the worse it is going to get and more people who will be killed."

The war on terrorism would achieve nothing, except to bring misery and death to ordinary citizens, according to local AWC activist Rajith Perera.

He added: "We are horrified at the bombing of innocent people in Afghanistan by US and British warplanes, just as we are horrified by the terrorist bombing of innocent people in the United States. We don't make a distinction between the lives of American and British people and the lives of Afghan people on the other."

October 17, 2001 19:29

Clair Weaver