Europe: Opposition to Iraqi war grows

On Sunday, The New York Times reported, "Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators marched through the streets here [in Florence, Italy] today to protest a possible military strike against Iraq, chanting antiwar slogans and throwing this Renaissance capital into a jittery state of alert."

The demonstration took place near the end of the European Social Forum -- "an open meeting space designed for in-depth reflection, democratic debate of ideas, formulation of proposals, free exchange of experiences and planning of effective action among entities and movements of civil society
that are engaged in building a planetary society centered on the human being."

The size of the demonstration -- according to some reports there were over half a million people -- is quite remarkable and demonstrates how unpopular a war will be (at least ouside of the American 'mainstream').

Related websites:

• European Social Forum

Related articles:

• Protests tell Bush: Don't attack Iraq (Workers World, November 14, 2002)
• Over 500,000 march in Florence against Iraq war (WSWS, November 12, 2002)
• Florence Wary as Opponents of War Stage a Huge March (New York Times, November 9, 2002)
• U.N. Iraq Move Fuels Anger at Italy Anti-War Demo (Reuters, November 9, 2002)
• Florence Besieged by Army of Freethinkers(Guardian UK, November 8, 2002)