From the picture it looks like there are only about 40 people at the most there. That is very small for a city of 350,000 people including the suburbs and surrounding built up area. Maybe again the reason for such a low turnout was that it was held on a Saturday. Lets have all the next days of action against this coming war on a Saturday!!!!

...but effective, claims the writer above. Certainly we semed to stir up various emotions amongst passers-by, and we *did* get people talking.

There was a "rally" earlier on at the university; again this was small, but comitted.

Stoke is a city of great political cynicism, i think. Throughout the years of tory rule, it was always firmly labour. It stood by the party. Now, since 97, there is a feeling of betrayal, a feeling that the Blair admin has done nothing for the city, which remains in a depressed state. An so, in day to day life, along with a level of gang violence that isn't really a problem for you if you stay out of its way, and youth violence which is a problem for some working-class families, there is an emphasis on grass-roots anarcho-capitalism. That is a feeling brought on by the decline of industry that it is necessary for everone in stoke to make as much money for themselves as is possible.

But concomitant to this feeling of betrayal is a rejection of labour - they don't do so well in local elections these days, and certainly lost out in the mayoral election we had recently, which was won by an independant. Also, that electorate registered 18% support for the BNP. This was reflected on the STW march: we recieved NAzi salutes from the back of buses, and a great deal of anti-immigrant feeling was expressed by youngsters as we talked with them along the procession's route. In particular they seemed concerned with 'Kosovan's. But, the most telling comment from such a lad was 'what about the war round here?' So then it was a question of bringing an anti-capitalist analysis to the discussions...

Nonetheless, there was an awareness expressed that Bush & co
were certainly not to be trusted, an awareness that Saddam has only remained in power since '91 because it suited the Bush regime to keep him there. Alternatively, there was a willing suspension of critical faculties when it came to believing some of the 'axis of evil' propoganda, one resident at the vigil arguing that bin Laden was probably connected with Saddam. However, he seemed thoughtful and reflective when the CIA background of Bin Laden was mentioned, and at the notion I expressed, that there was probably more linkage between bin Laden and Bush than between Bin Laden and Saddam.
As we were making our way back from the vigil, a bloke in a car shouted 'why shouldn't we attak irak?!'. I replied, slightly off topic, that 'fighting terrorism with war is like fighting fire with petrol!' (spot the quote). A pause. 'And I think we should bomb Pak-i-stan too!'. Gives you some idea of the level of global conciousness to be dealt with in Stoke's proletariat...

But, as I say, we *did* get people talking in the street with protesters and amongst themselves about the issue. There are lessons to be learned, about the size of the demo. Many who only heard about it at the last minute and came down to the vigil were sayimng that, if they had known earlier, they would have mobilised more people 4 the whole thing. We felt we had done as much publicity as was humanly possible, but maybe this proved to be weak in the event.
The website is a resource for groups in the area to network, and we used to hold street parties and critical masses for the same purpose. These may get off the ground again in the future, but, to put it bluntly, we need more people and more commitment.

If you are in the area on 22nd November, there is a benefit gig for STW, with African drumming and Moss Side reggae band Nucleus Roots, at the Rigger pub in Hartshill. Use the email if U want more info.

Big up Stoke!