On 15 February, the world saw mass demonstrations opposing war in Iraq, with people protesting in some 60 countries and 300 cities across the globe. People from all walks of life took to the streets, from Sydney to Berlin, from Rome to New York, to send a message to their leaderships that came through loud and clear: STOP THE WAR!
When in Rome...
Samia Nkrumah joined three million Italians
"Three million Italians signalling their opposition to a war on Iraq," read many headlines in the Italian press. While some estimates put the number at less, the Rome peace march turned out, by all accounts, to be the biggest of all the European anti-war demonstrations that took place on 15 February.
The massive crowd made its way through the centre of the Italian capital covering about 10 kilometres. In the radiant afternoon sunshine, the rainbow flags, banners and bandannas of the protesters for peace drew a warm and brilliant hue across the city centre. They matched many other banners hung from windows of houses, bars, shops and churches, even from the headquarters of Mediaset, the television station owned by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi has declared his support for US President Bush but has avoided a clear stance on the war issue.
The marchers took between four and five hours to reach their destination in San Giovanni Square where a platform was set up for speakers against a dramatic background of a reproduction of Picasso's famous anti-war painting, "Guernica". A minute's silence for all those who died in previous wars preceded the speeches, and at the close of the day, the crowd broke into chanting, music and singing that gave the event a carnival-like atmosphere -- but not before thousands and thousands of arms were raised high up with hands giving the traditional "V" sign of peace.
The last time over a million Italians marched across the Italian capital was last March after the government proposed changing labour laws that prompted country-wide protests led by the powerful Italian labour unions.
At Saturday's peace march the turnout was unprecedented because it cut across Italian society as a whole, irrespective of differences in political orientation or even age, egged on by the combined influence of both the Vatican as well as the unions. The streets acquired a special importance as a venue for vocal opposition to redress the inefficacy of the fragmented centre-left opposition in a parliament dominated by the centre-right or its allies.
One striking addition to the expected traditional left-wing was the mass participation of whole families, youth and even children. Thousands of teenagers turned out. A similar number of children came accompanied by their parents, the smaller ones perched on shoulders, the older ones walking in groups. Many young ones carried slogans that said, "The only bombs we want are the doughnuts". The slogan was a pun on the Italian word for bombs which sounds similar to the word doughnuts. "Peace is something children can relate to," commented a woman passing nearby.
The other conspicuous presence was that of religious protesters. Priests, nuns and the Catholic boys and girls scouts marched alongside us. In the words of one commentator, "You can see the influence of the Vatican," referring to the Holy See's opposition to a war against Iraq. The Vatican has declared its opposition to armed intervention in Iraq and has consistently condemned the continued economic sanctions on the country. Its envoy, Cardinal Roger Etchegaray, declared this week after returning from Iraq where he met with Saddam Hussein that the Iraqi leader was predisposed to peace. A day before the peace march in Rome, Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz met with Pope John Paul II.
The speakers' podium in San Giovanni Square where the march ended was off limits for politicians of any hue with the exception of two elderly ones, one a former speaker of parliament and communist leader, and the other a centrist, former head of state. The objective was to give the stand to ordinary voices to be heard. Nevertheless, this was one march that was attended by all the top figures of the opposition, representing the centre-left, the communists, and the trade unions, who for once held a united position.
Sergio Cofferati, the popular ex-leader of CGIL, the largest trade union, said there can be no doubt that the no-sayers to the war were in the majority. Leader of the centre- left opposition Francesco Rutelli called the protesters a "river of hope for peace". Massimo D'Alema, former prime minister and leader of the biggest left-wing party, The Democrats of the Left, warned that this was only the tip of the iceberg.
The absence of one or the other was guaranteed in all past protests, but not on 15 February, where they basked in the knowledge that at least on the issue of attacking Iraq, their stance mirrors that of public opinion. Polls in Italy have consistently indicated that the majority of Italians are opposed to a war with Iraq. This is in stark contrast to public statements which are supportive of Bush. The strength of Italian public opinion is bolstered by skepticism over the reasons for going to war. "No blood for oil" was one recurrent slogan on banners. One analyst pointed out that the biggest marches took place in countries whose governments have shown a pro-Washington stance.
A few weeks ago, Berlusconi along with seven other European leaders, signed a statement that was published in the Wall Street Journal, declaring solidarity with Washington. The document in question emerged at a time when France and Germany had made public their opposition to America's proposed unilateral war. Their positions prompted the American administration to dub the two European powers the "old Europe" as opposed to the "new Europe" comprising Italy, Spain and other smaller European countries including a handful in eastern Europe.
In the aftermath of the march, a furor erupted over the failure of RAI, Italy's state- controlled broadcasting network, to transmit the march live. Berlusconi's government now effectively controls most of Italy's six main television channels: the three RAI channels, in addition to his three privately- owned commercial channels. Only one other independent and private TV channel, known as the seventh channel, managed to cover the demonstrations live. Criticism poured from the Vatican and the CGIL. Even the centre-right speaker of the lower house of parliament was compelled to condemn RAI for this oversight which could lead to the resignation of RAI's pro-government president and director general.
While showing an awareness of the link between American oil interests and the possible war, activists at the march avoided anti-American rhetoric. The famous Italian director and political activist, Nanni Moretti, who brought his son along, told La Repubblica daily that the protest march was not directed at the US. "Chirac and Schröeder are not anti-American but they were able to decide freely and independently in a manner that reflects the sentiments of the majority of their citizens," Moretti said.
