15 February 2003 anti-war protests facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

On 15 February 2003, people in over 600 cities around the world held protests. They wanted to show that they were against the upcoming Iraq War. This day was part of many protests and political events that started in 2002. These protests continued as the invasion, war, and occupation happened. Experts who study social movements called this day "the largest protest event in human history."

According to BBC News, between six and ten million people joined protests in up to sixty countries. This happened over the weekend of 15 and 16 February.

The biggest protests were in Europe. About three million people protested in Rome, Italy. The 2004 Guinness Book of World Records lists this as the largest anti-war rally ever. Madrid, Spain, had the second largest protest. More than 1.5 million people protested the invasion of Iraq there. In Beijing, China, three smaller protests happened the next day. Foreigners and local students attended these.

Why People Protested

In 2002, the United States government started saying that invading Iraq was necessary. This began with a speech by US President George W. Bush on 12 September 2002. He spoke to the United Nations General Assembly. He said that the Iraqi government led by Saddam Hussein was breaking United Nations (UN) rules. These rules were mainly about weapons of mass destruction. Bush argued that action was needed because of this.

Many people disagreed with the idea of war. They questioned why the US government wanted to invade. A survey in 41 countries showed that less than 10% would support an invasion without UN approval. Half of the people surveyed would not support an invasion at all.

Anti-war groups around the world organized public protests. A French expert, Dominique Reynié, said that between 3 January and 12 April 2003, 36 million people globally joined almost 3,000 anti‑war protests. The demonstrations on 15 February 2003 were the biggest and most well-known.

Working Together Globally

The protests on 15 February were special. Not only were they huge, but groups from different countries worked together. Researchers from the University of Antwerp said this day was possible because it "was carefully planned by an international network of national social movement organisations."

Immanuel Wallerstein described these global protests as being organized by groups from "the Porto Alegre camp." This refers to global social movements that had been organizing at international events. An example is the 2001 World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Some people say this is an example of "grassroots globalisation." One book states that "The worldwide protests were made possible by globalisation ... But make no mistake—this was not your CEO's globalisation. The peace demonstrations represented, not a globalisation of commerce, but a globalisation of conscience." This means it was about people's shared beliefs, not just business.

The idea for a global day of protests first came from a British group called Globalise Resistance (GR). This happened after a large anti-war protest in Britain on 28 September, which had 400,000 people. GR was planning for the Florence European Social Forum (ESF) at the time. They suggested the idea at an ESF planning meeting. According to GR's Chris Nineham, "There was considerable controversy. Some delegates were worried it would alienate the mainstream of the movement. We, alongside the Italian delegates, had to put up a strong fight to get it accepted."

The idea was accepted. At the final meeting of the ESF in November 2002, the call for Europe-wide protests on 15 February 2003 was officially made. This plan was confirmed in December at a meeting for the next ESF in Copenhagen in 2003. Many European anti-war groups, the US group United for Peace and Justice, and groups from the Philippines attended this meeting. They decided to create a Europe-wide anti-war website. They also committed to spreading their organization efforts within and beyond Europe. An email network was set up to connect different national groups across Europe and later, US groups.

In December 2002, the Cairo Anti-war Conference promised to organize protests in Egypt. The International Campaign Against Aggression on Iraq (which came from the Cairo conference) worked to coordinate more protests worldwide. Around this time, the US anti-war group International ANSWER called for actions in North America to support the planned protests in Europe.

Another important way the call to protest spread was at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. This event happened at the end of 2002. European delegates tried to make the plan for the international protest popular. They had some success, including organizing an anti‑war meeting that almost 1,000 people attended.

The song "Boom!" by System of a Down had a music video filmed on the day of the protest. It showed many protest locations and people's feelings about the Iraq War.

Protests Around the World

Protests happened across Europe. Some of the largest had tens of thousands of people in many cities. About one-fifth of all protesters worldwide were in Europe.

Europe

Austria: 30,000 people protested in Vienna.
Switzerland: About 40,000 people joined a protest in Bern. This was the largest protest in Switzerland since 1945.
Slovenia: About 3,000 people gathered in Ljubljana and marched.
Belgium: Organizers expected 30,000 people in Brussels, but about 100,000 showed up. The march took over 3 hours to cross the city.
Netherlands: Around 70,000 to 75,000 people protested in Amsterdam. This was the country's largest protest since the anti-nuclear campaigns of the 1980s.
Croatia: 10,000 people protested in Zagreb. Protests also happened in other cities like Osijek and Split.
Cyprus: Between 500 and 800 people protested at the British army base in Dhekelia. They briefly blocked the base.
Czech Republic: Over 1,000 people rallied in Prague. They marched to the Czech government building and the US embassy.
France: Protests took place in many cities. The biggest was in Paris, with about 100,000 to 200,000 people marching to the Place de la Bastille.
Germany: Between 300,000 and 500,000 people protested in Berlin. This was the largest protest in Berlin in decades.
Greece: 150,000 people protested in Athens. Most of the protest was peaceful.
Hungary: 60,000 people protested in Budapest.
Ireland: The Dublin march was expected to have 20,000 people, but estimates ranged from 80,000 to 150,000. Protesters demanded that the Irish government stop allowing the US military to use Shannon Airport.
Italy: The biggest protest of the day was in Rome. About three million people were on the streets. This was listed in the 2004 Guinness Book of World Records as the largest anti-war rally ever.
Malta: Approximately 1,000 people protested in Malta despite cold, rainy weather.
Scandinavia: Norway saw its biggest protests since 1917. Over 60,000 people protested in Oslo. In Denmark, 20,000 to 30,000 people marched in Copenhagen. In Sweden, 35,000 protested in Stockholm. In Finland, 15,000 people protested in Helsinki.
Poland: 10,000 people protested in Warsaw, passing the US embassy.
Portugal: Around 35,000 people gathered in Lisbon. Three former prime ministers attended.
Russia: The largest protest in Russia was in Moscow, with 400 people.
Serbia: 200 people protested in Belgrade.
Slovakia: 1,000 people marched in Bratislava.
Spain: Protests happened in about 55 cities. In Madrid, between 660,000 and 2,000,000 people protested. This was likely the biggest protest in Spain since 1975. Barcelona also had a huge protest, with estimates up to 1,500,000 people.
Turkey: Thousands protested in Istanbul despite a ban. Protests also happened in other cities like Ankara.
Ukraine: Around 2,000 people joined a "Rock against the war" rally in Kyiv.

United Kingdom

London

The Stop the War Coalition (known as 'the Stop'), Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), and the Muslim Association of Britain organized the London protest together. They expected a very large turnout. The police agreed for the march to start from two places: Thames Embankment and Gower Street. The plan was for the marches to meet at Piccadilly Circus and then go to Hyde Park for a rally.

The government initially tried to stop the rally in Hyde Park. However, the decision was changed by 5 February. The Daily Mirror newspaper supported the protest and provided many signs. Greenpeace also sponsored the event. The BBC predicted around 500,000 people would attend. The organizers hoped for over a million.

The British Stop the War Coalition said the London protest was the largest political demonstration in the city's history. Police estimated over 750,000 people. The BBC estimated about a million. The weather was cold, but people were in "high spirits." London became very crowded. Hundreds of buses brought protesters from 250 towns and cities across the UK. Many people noted how diverse the crowd was. A journalist from The Observer saw "nuns. Toddlers. Women barristers. The Eton George Orwell Society. Archaeologists Against War."

The police said the event happened almost without problems. Protesters who reached Hyde Park heard speakers like Harold Pinter and Tony Benn. However, many people at the back of the march could not reach the rally in time.

Scotland

In Scotland, anti-war activists planned a protest in Glasgow. It ended at the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC). The Labour Party was holding a conference there. The Labour Party tried to stop the protesters from having a stage and sound system outside. However, they were not successful. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, rescheduled his speech to avoid the protesters.

About 50,000 people joined the march in Glasgow. By the time the front of the march reached the SECC, Blair had already given his speech and left. One protester said, "We've chased him out of town."

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the march was in Belfast. 10,000 to 20,000 protesters from different communities joined. The march went towards Belfast City Hall. Important politicians from Sinn Féin and the Social Democratic and Labour Party joined. Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams spoke, saying, "If President Bush and Mr Blair want war, it should be war against poverty and for equality."

Americas

Canada

Canada had protests in 70 cities and towns. The biggest was in Montreal, with over 100,000 people protesting. This happened despite very cold temperatures, below −30 °C (−22 °F). 80,000 people protested in Toronto, and 40,000 in Vancouver.

United States

Protests happened across the United States. CBS reported protests in 150 US cities. The largest were in Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City. Smaller rallies also took place in towns like Gainesville, Georgia and Juneau, Alaska.

New York City

Organizers of the New York City protest wanted to march past the headquarters of the United Nations. However, police did not allow this route. Instead, protesters could only hold a stationary rally. A judge ruled against allowing the march. This was seen as a rare limit on civil liberties.

On that day, over 300 buses and four special trains brought protesters. The BBC estimated 100,000 protesters at a rally near the UN headquarters. Among them were the September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, a group of relatives of victims from the September 11 attacks. Speakers included actress Susan Sarandon and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. As people tried to reach the rally, they formed an unplanned march. It stretched twenty blocks. Estimates range from 300,000 to 400,000 protesters. The protests were mostly peaceful. A small group caused some damage and threw stones at police, leading to forty arrests.

There were many complaints that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) was too harsh. Many streets were blocked. Police reported about 275 arrests. Organizers said there were 348 arrests. A CNN journalist said the crowd was diverse. It included "older men and women in fur coats, parents with young children, military veterans and veterans of the anti-war movement."

Other U.S. cities

In Los Angeles, California, 50,000 to 60,000 protesters marched down Hollywood Boulevard. Actors Martin Sheen and Mike Farrell were among them. Martin Sheen said, "None of us can stop this war ... there is only one guy that can do that and he lives in the White House."

In San Francisco, the protest was held on Sunday, February 16. The BBC estimated 150,000 people. Organizers and police agreed on 200,000 people. However, a local newspaper estimated closer to 65,000 at the peak.

In Austin, Texas, 10,000 protesters marched down Congress Avenue. In Colorado Springs, 4,000 protesters were broken up by police using pepper spray and stun guns. 34 people were arrested.

In Seattle, 50,000 people protested. This was more than the Seattle protests against the WTO Ministerial Conference of 1999. Thousands protested in Philadelphia, and 10,000 in Chicago.

Mexico

The main protest in Mexico was in Mexico City. About 10,000 people marched. It ended with a rally at the US embassy. Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchú was among the protesters.

South America

Protests happened across South America. In Uruguay, 70,000 people marched in Montevideo on February 14. In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led a protest of 1,500 people. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, about 50,000 protesters attended.

Asia

In parts of Asia with many Muslim people, there was strong opposition to the war. However, protests in many of these countries were small. One newspaper from the United Arab Emirates said: "The people of the world and more than one million Europeans demonstrate against an attack on Iraq while the Arab people and their leaders are in a deep coma." This suggests that protest movements were often controlled by leaders in those countries.

West Asia

In Iraq, where the war would happen, several thousand Iraqis marched in Baghdad. Many carried rifles. Unlike most protests, this one also supported the Baathist government. It was called "World Anger Day" by Saddam Hussein. Protesters carried posters of Saddam and burned US flags.

A large protest also took place in Damascus, Syria. Between 10,000 and 200,000 protesters chanted anti-U.S. and anti-Israeli slogans. In Lebanon, 10,000 protesters marched in Beirut. There were also protests of 5,000 people in Amman, Jordan.

In Israel, about 2,000 to 3,000 people protested in Tel Aviv. This protest included both Arabs and Jews. It was organized by many groups. A similar protest happened in Ramallah.

Other areas in Asia

Small protests happened across Japan, mostly outside US military bases. The biggest protest in Japan was in Shibuya, with 5,000 people. There was also a protest of 25,000 in Tokyo the day before.

Around 3,000 people joined an illegal protest in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Police had warned against it. In Taiwan, over 2,000 people protested in Taipei with the slogan "No Blood for Oil."

India saw protests across the country, including 10,000 in Calcutta. In Bangladesh, 2,000 people protested in Dhaka. In South Korea, 2,000 to 3,000 people protested in Seoul.

In Beijing, China, three protests were held the next day. About 450 people attended, including foreigners and students.

Africa

South Africa

In Johannesburg, about 8,000-10,000 people joined a colorful and peaceful protest. They marched to the U.S. Consulate General. In Cape Town, 5,000 to 20,000 protesters marched. They ended at the US consulate-general. Protests also took place in Durban and Bloemfontein.

Many important politicians from the ANC attended. At the Cape Town rally, South African Minister Pallo Jordan told protesters, "We will stop the war. The voice of the people will be heard."

Tunisia

A protest of about 3,000 people in Sfax, Tunisia, was attacked by police. Police beat protesters, injuring at least 20.

Oceania

Fiji

Protests in Fiji happened on Friday, the day before the main weekend of demonstrations. Protesters gave Valentine's Day messages to representatives from the US, British, and Australian governments. They urged them to avoid war.

Australia

On Friday, about 150,000 people protested in Melbourne. On Saturday, protests happened in Australia's capital, Canberra, with 20,000 protesters. In Sydney, 200,000 people protested. An estimated 600,000 people protested in cities around the country.

New Zealand

The first protest of the day happened in New Zealand. 10,000 people protested in Auckland and Wellington. The Auckland march was bigger than expected, closing Queen Street. In Wellington, the march had too many people to fit into the planned park. About 400 to 500 people marched in Hamilton. Protests also took place in at least 18 other towns.

Antarctica

A group of scientists at the US McMurdo Station held a rally on the ice.

What Happened After

At the time, many people hoped these huge global protests would stop the Iraq War. The New York Times writer Patrick Tyler said they showed there were "two superpowers on the planet – the United States, and worldwide public opinion."

The huge size of the protests showed that most people around the world were against the war. However, politicians who supported the war often ignored the protests. The Prime Minister of Australia, John Howard, said the protests did not represent public opinion. He stated, "I don't know that you can measure public opinion just by the number of people that turn up at demonstrations." In the United States, then National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice said the protests would "not affect [the administration's] determination to confront Saddam Hussein."

Her view turned out to be true. The protests, and others that followed, did not stop the war. However, the protests and public opposition were important reasons why some countries, like Canada, did not send troops to Iraq. They also influenced Turkey to not let the US use its airbases. The protests also helped strengthen the position of countries like Angola, Cameroon, Chile, Mexico, and Pakistan in the United Nations Security Council.

Even though protests against the Iraq War continued, none matched the size of the 15 February protest. One reason suggested is that people became disappointed. They felt that marching did not achieve its goal. In 2006, three years later, Mike Marqusee argued that it was too soon to judge the long-term importance of the protests. He said, "People who took part in the non-cooperation campaigns in India in the 20s and 30s had to wait a long time for independence." He also said that not protesting would make it more likely for the war to continue.

Despite not stopping the war directly, the 15 February global anti-war protests had other effects. According to Salma Yaqoob, a UK anti-war activist, they showed that the war was not a "Clash of Civilizations" or a religious war. This idea was spread by both Western leaders and some groups in the Arab world. Hadiya Masieh, a former organizer, said about non-Muslims marching in London, "How could we demonise people who obviously opposed aggression against Muslims?"

The film Howl's Moving Castle by Hayao Miyazaki was influenced by his opposition to the United States' invasion of Iraq in 2003. The film has strong anti-war themes. Miyazaki said he "had a great deal of rage" about the Iraq War.

Images for kids

A puppet representing Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi during the demonstration in Rome
NYPD officers advance on protesters during a brief outbreak of violence
60,000–200,000 protesters of various ages demonstrated in San Francisco, (accounts vary as to the total number present)
Protesters in Cape Town.