The London Blasts: An Anti-War Response

Date: 7 July 2005

Today's horrific events in London demand an active response from the movements for peace and justice.

Justice Not Vengeance and Voices in the Wilderness UK are proposing that anti-war and other groups around the UK hold silent vigils in their town centres at noon on Saturday, or at some other time this weekend (in Hastings, a vigil is being held in front of the town hall at 6pm on Friday).

The following themes are suggested (please amend as you see fit). A pdf of a leaflet is here.

(Statements issued by other anti-war groups are here.)

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SOLIDARITY with those who are suffering directly as a result of the London atrocities - and all those who have suffered violence in the course of the "war on terror"

We stand silently to remember those who have lost their lives, those who have been injured, and those who have been bereaved by the terrorist attacks in London. We also remember all those who have died as a result of violence in the course of the "war on terror" - in the United States, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Indonesia, in Spain, and elsewhere.

SOLIDARITY with those who are now threatened with a violent backlash

We stand silently to express our determination to defend the Muslim community, Arab communities, and other groups who face abuse and violent attacks in the wake of these outrages in London. We condemn all attempts to hold Islam itself responsible for the attacks in London or for any other acts of terrorism.

COMMITMENT to true security and justice

We are determined to resist military retaliation against other nations, believing that military action undermines our security rather than strengthening it.

We resolve to resist repressive legislation which deepens grievances rather than building justice and reconciliation.

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If you hold a vigil, please let the press/radio know in advance (take your own photograph and send it in to your local paper if they don't send a photographer) AND please also send a report to us.

There will be more materials appearing on the JNV and Voices websites over the next 48 hours.

Best wishes

Milan Rai
Justice Not Vengeance

Gabriel Carlyle
Voices in the Wilderness UK

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2) Counter Terror: Build Justice

Quotes from the Counter Terror: Build Justice statement (the Counter Terror: Build Justice month of action was 19 March - 15 April 2005):

'In the face of global terrorism, we believe that our community, our nation, and our world, must choose the path of peace, human rights, and justice. We believe that what is presented to us as 'the war on terrorism' is a campaign of violence and repression that actually generates more anti-Western terrorism.

'We believe that the world needs a different agenda in order to end the terrorism of the weak and halt the terrorism of the powerful. We reject the logic of war and invasion, the erosion of basic rights, and the demonisation of Muslims and Arab communities...

'In the event of a major terrorist attack against our country, we commit ourselves to supporting victims and their relatives, defending the rights of those threatened by a vengeful backlash - particularly Muslims and Arab people in our communities, and nonviolently resisting any military response by our government.'

Signatories included: Aldermaston Women's Peace Camp, Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation, Children Against War, Edinburgh People and Planet, Green Party UK, Hands Up for Peace, Justice Not Vengeance, Pax Christi, Red Pepper magazine, Voices in the Wilderness US and UK, Women in Black (London)

Individual signatories included: Michael Albert, Noam Chomsky, Bruce Kent, Caroline Lucas (MEP), Kamil Mahdi, George Monbiot, John Pilger, Haifa Zangana, and Howard Zinn (US)