Young people back peaceful message (From Stroud News and Journal)

Young people back peaceful message

MORE than 100 peace protesters joined a demonstration to register their disappointment about the outbreak of war on Thursday, March 20.

They gathered at the Subscription Rooms at 5pm before marching to Merrywalks, fanning out across the bridge and along the roadside.

Bearing banners and placards with messages ranging from 'Stroud Peace Movement Says No To War' to 'Wage Peace' the demonstrators filed across the bridge, draping their slogans over the railings.

Annabel Caddle, one of the founders of the Stroud Peace Movement, said: "I suppose we expected it but it doesn't stop it being very shocking.

"It's deeply saddening that the day has come that we've been fighting so hard against.

"But it doesn't feel like a defeat because I think we have slowed things down and peace protester all around the world have caused the leaders to think about what they are going to do."

Demonstrator Andy Dunn added: "The war may have started already and it's probably not going to be stopped.

"But I think it's really important that people all over the world don't give up and keep fighting against the war so our government and the Americans can't keep pushing this imperialism with their war machine."

Aid worker Martin Whiteside said: "I'm disgusted. This war was always preventable.

"In the end Bush backed Blair into a corner he wasn't brave enough to get out of.

"We now have a rogue superpower which is blazing its way through all the international agreements.

Sue Nicholson, a sociology tutor from Nailsworth, said it was important to keep up the momentum.

"The politicians won't listen but we still have to make our point," she said.

She found the number of young people who had come out to protest encouraging.

"They're not apathetic or apolitical at all," she said. "In fact they could teach the older generation a thing or two."