The massive antiwar actions around Australia within days of the opening of the Gulf War were primed by countless smaller actions in the days leading up to January 15.
In Hobart, there was a permanent vigil on lawns of Parliament House in support of the peace camp on the Iraqi-Saudi border. Eventually, there were some 50 tents pitched on the lawn. On January 12, ??? a rally organised by Community Aid Abroad drew 800 people to a hall designed for 400.
Canberra had a vigil of about 1000 on January 14, and a vigil outside the Lodge once war broke out.
Outside the US consulate in Sydney, there was a continuing vigil of up to 600 people. Melbourne also had a round-the-clock vigil opposite the US consulate beginning on Sunday the 13th.
In Wollongong on January 13, a meeting in the mall organised by churches and trade unions drew 1000 people. Newcastle had a vigil of 250 outside the War Memorial on the 15th, following an earlier church service for peace that drew 600 and a peace concert of 1000.
On January 15, Brisbane had a spirited march and rally of 3000, marching from King George Square to the Roma Street Forum.
Perth on January 15 had a vigil of 400 to 500 people, and a prayer service that night drew 1000. When the war began, there was an immediate march of 900 through City Square.
The big January 19 marches and rallies had usually been called a month or more before for "the first Saturday after war breaks out". Even so, that didn't leave much time for advance publicity, which makes the big turnout all the more encouraging.
The Melbourne march was generally estimated at 50,000 or more, while 40,000 to 50,000 demonstrated in Sydney. Adelaide had 15-20,000, Brisbane 6000, Perth 4000, Hobart 3000-5000, Lismore 2000 and Darwin 500. Several hundred people demonstrated outside Pine Gap, and there were actions also in Townsville, Wagga, Gosford, Albury Wodonga, Bendigo and Ballarat.
On the following weekend, there were further large demonstrations in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Wollongong; on January 31 in Hobart and on February 2 in Newcastle and Perth.
Actions on the February 16 weekend will be reported in the next issue of Â鶹´«Ã½. See the box for events scheduled for February 22-23.
As well, most centres are planning Palm Sunday events linked to the
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