Women Solidarity with Iraqi People on March 8

In the demonstration"Against War, Killing of Women and Poverty", the favorite slogans were"Women do not want war", "If the Parliamentarians vote for the resolution, they should go to fight", "USA the murderer, AKP the collaborator", "We are mothers, we are for peace" in support of Iraqi people and Iraqi women.

The protest was full of musical instruments and drums, femina flags, purple, yellow, red and green banners, women in black clothes and purple and red scarves.

There were independent women's groups, political parties, mixed organizations, and women from KESK (Confederation of Public Workers Unions). The women of pro-Kurdish Democratic People's Party (DEHAP) and pro-Kurdish People's democracy Party (HADEP) were the largest crowd that joined the action.

The March 8th declaration, that was read out in both Turkish and Kurdish, stated that "We, women, reject US plans of imperialist reconstruction in the Middle East. We reject the attacks on Palestine, the attacks on Afghanistan and the current plans for an attack on Iraq. We do not want Turkey to plunge into another conflict".

Peace Vigil with candle

Since February 15th, people in Turkey have been carrying out the " the lights action" to protest and prevent the prospective United States aggression on Iraq which involves flickering lights (of houses, offices, cars) on and off for one minute every night at 20:00 PM.

Parallel to this are spontaneous anti-war actions on the streets. Mis Sokak, a street in central Istanbul, has been a regular venue for the light action.

On the night of the Women's Day, about 200 women reclaimed the Mis Sokak action, marching there through the busiest pedestrian street in town with peace slogans, candles, whistles, horns and pots and pans. The synergy created was impressive and inspiring. (BE/NM)