A two-hour demo was held at lunchtime today (19 January), outside the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in Westminster, to oppose any foreign military intervention in Iran, or Syria. Slogans were chanted calling for peaceful measures rather than military intervention, and in support of those who non-violently resist oppressive regimes. Groups involved in the protest included Peace Strike and 'Solidarity with the Iranian People's Struggle' (SWIP).

This is how the action was advertised by Peace Strike:

Peace Strike

# DON'T ATTACK IRAN DEMO #

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

King Charles Street
Westminster, SW1A 2AH, United Kingdom
12 - 2pm,
Thursday 19th January 2012
Bring Banners, whistles enthusiasm and energy!
This is the start of the BIG PEACE OFFENSIVE to prevent a war with Iran.

"LISTEN TO THE PEOPLE"

From this date, we will be organising protests to highlight the great concerns held internationally, that a war on Iran will affect everyone. We will not be party to the intended destruction of any nation. We are peaceful people and have a duty to promote peace for everyone, everywhere. Bombing countries is not a solution to anything, it will only escalate retaliation. We will not standby and see a repeat of what happened in Iraq and Afghanistan. Too many people have died and been seriously injured due to lies and deceit.

We call on world leaders to revalue the situation and listen to the people they represent, and...
WORK FOR PEACE!

Contact 07907 233 861

mail [at] peacestrike.org.uk

www.peacestrike.org.uk

A leaflet distributed by 'Solidarity with the Iranian People's Struggle' read:

"Protest against military action against Iran

In solidarity with the Iranian people

We believe:

- Nuclear issues should be resolved through discussion by an International committee, not war;

- Conflict between the Iranian freedom believers and the Islamic Regime of Iran should be dealt with the Iranian people and no foreign countries should interfere with the wills and decisions of the Iranian people;

- Military action has no consequences other than the killing of innocent people and strengthens fundamentalism which will result in civil war;

- The experience of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has shown that war has no consequences other than the killing of innocent people and the brain washing of young soldiers from invading countries;

- War will strengthen the Islamic Regime of Iran by causing it to repress the Iranian people's struggle, especially working class and socialist movement in the name of defending the country;

- War will support the arms trade, create poverty and create miserable living conditions for ordinary people of both sides.

We seek support and help from all freedom believers and honourable people of the world to protest against military action against Iran.

No war!

Down with the Islamic Regime of Iran!

Long live the Iranian People's struggle!

Solidarity with the Iranian people's struggle (SWIP)

London 19.01.2012"

All images are Copyright (c) 2012 D. Viesnik / Peace Strike. They may be reproduced free of charge for non-commercial purposes, if credited. For larger, high resolution versions, please e-mail vd2012-imc [at] yahoo .co .uk

More images available here:  https://picasaweb.google.com/vd2012.pics/DonTAttackIranDemo#