Protesters link arms around MoD building in Glasgow

Around 2,000 people took part in a morning of protests against the war on 27 October. At 11 am demonstrators joined arms and encircled Kentigern House, the large Ministry of Defence building in Argyle Street. From there they marched through the city centre. A short sit down protest was held outside the army recruiting office in Queen Street. A rally then took place in George Square from 12 noon to 1.30 pm.

Among the speakers was independent MSP Dennis Canavan. Mr Canavan described how he had argued in the Scottish Parliament on Thursday that there should be an end to the bombing of Afghanistan, but his amendment was only supported by a small number of MSPs. He said he felt that this did not accurately reflect the views of the people of Scotland. There were a wide range of other speakers who stressed the effect that the military action was having on the ordinary people of Afghanistan.

Speakers were Jim Friel (GPMU), Rosie Kane (Scottish Socialist Party), Tim Duffy (Justice and Peace Commission, Roman Catholic Church), Tim Shand (Green Party), Houra Kudir (Afghan student), Morag Ross (Church and Nation Committee, Church of Scotland), Agnes Tolmie (STUC Womens Committee), Margaret Lynch (SCIAF), John Milligan (RMT), Wael Shawish (Palestian Rights), Julie White (Globalise Resistance), Murdo Ritchie (Socialist Labour Party). The rally was chaired by Alan Mackinnon of Scottish CND.