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| Takver's Soapbox | Melbourne, 21 March 2003 | www.takver.com | |
Thousands of people continue to march against the war on Iraq. Friday afternoon thousands rallied in the rain and showers. Perhaps 20,000 people met at the State Library then marched up to the State Parliament.
I was apprehensive about the numbers that would attend this rally, given the number of rallies happening lately and physical burnout by people who attend them, often at the cost of alternative everyday commitments. I was surprised at the numbers attending this rally, despite the rain and showers.
It is also deceptive the numbers at the start of this rally as many people stayed under cover in the Library portico, against the shops on Swanston Street, and in Melbourne Central during the rain showers. I would have said 8,000 on the lawns. But this number easily doubled and more when the weather fined up a bit and the march started.
I said there were perhaps up to 20,000 people at this rally. The Age on Saturday said 15,000. Once again I think my estimate is reasonably accurate.
Up to 10,000 unionists stopped work and marched against the war today in Melbourne. They gathered outside Melbourne Trades Hall before marching down to the corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets.
The Age on Saturday estimated 5,000. The closing rally was held at the bottom of Swanston St. The crowd at this point filled Swanston st back to Collins St. During the speeches many chose to leave and the crowd dwindled down to about half by the time the rally was formally closed.
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