Labour MP opposes military action at Glasgow rally

George Galloway was among a wide range of speakers at a peace rally attended by three thousand people in Glasgow on 13th October 2001. The rally was organised by the Scottish Coalition for Justice not War in which Scottish CND plays a major role. The rally was followed by a march around the city centre.

The Labour MP said: "To follow a massacre of innocent civilians with another massacre of innocent civilians is equally unconsciable." He described the US attack on Afghanistan as "like Mike Tyson climbing into a boxing ring with a small child and savagely beating him round after round."

Eildon Dyer of Christian Aid argued that the Afghan people need aid to see them through the Winter, not the airdrops which the US were carrying out. She said: "The American food parcels are at best naïve and at worst a cynical ploy." Ken Ross of Strathclyde Fire Brigades Union said: " Tony Blair said we need to keep the number of innocent victims to a minimum - well there is a simple way to do that - stop bombing them and start feeding them".

Rev Norman Shanks, Leader of the Iona Community said "Justice and peace will not be achieved through military power and the use of violence."

Neil Cruickshank, Chair of Scottish CND informed the rally that the next major peace event would be a blockade of the Faslane Trident base on Monday 22nd October. A Stop the War demonstration would also be held outside the MoD building in Argyle St on Saturday 27th October.