Stop the War on Iran: Emergency Protests

Stop the War on Iran: Emergency Protests
Volume 56 Number 7, March 7,
2026
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Emergency Protests
Anti-war protesters rally outside Westminster
Hundreds of anti-war demonstrators gathered outside Parliament on Saturday,
February 28, voicing opposition to the US and Israel-led unprovoked attacks on
Iran.
The protest was organised by the Stop the War on Iran Coalition, supported
by the Islamic Human Rights Commission, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, Stop
the War, Campaign Against Sanctions, Military and Imperialist Interventions
(CASMII), and others.
Addressing the crowd, Professor Abbas Edalat from the CASMII pointed out
that Iran's historic solidarity with Palestine was one of the main reasons that
the West was bombing Iran.
He stated that Iran had been the only country to fulfil its obligations
under the Genocide Convention. Iran has refused to abandon Palestinians for 47
years, despite crippling sanctions and threats of regime change.
He also called on anti-war activists not to play into the hands of
imperialist warmongers by attacking the Iranian government. He urged unity in
defending Iran against the onslaught.
Chris Nineham from Stop the War said that there was a "real sense that
Trump and the Americans and the Israelis are taking us to the brink of
absolutely disastrous events, and we have to stop them".
Newcastle
Emergency protest at the Monument, Newcastle, March
2
On Monday March 2, around 70 people took part in the emergency protest at
the Monument to condemn the US/Israeli unprovoked and criminal attack on Iran
whilst negotiations were ongoing between the US and Iran. The protest condemned
these murderous and reckless acts that have led to the death of more than 150 young
girls in the bombing of a school and massive destruction in Iran. Also, that
this threatens a wider war across the region with unimaginable consequences.
The protest sent deepest sympathies to the people of Iran for the loss of their
people and the loss of their leader Ayatollah Khamenei who, along with his
family members, was assassinated in the attacks on Tehran and other cities.
Speaker after speaker expressed full support for Iran's right to
self-determination and self-defence. The Chair of the protest Tony Dowling
condemned Starmer for announcing that he was allowing the US to use British
bases to attack Iran by claiming that this was "self-defence" for
Britain. He said how can taking part in an illegal war of aggression against
Iran be defensive. He said that we must protest this madness and demand that
our government takes no part and condemns Israel's and US's catastrophic
actions.
Speakers were: Cath Davis, Your Party Central Executive Committee; Martin
Levy, president Newcastle Trades Union Council; Sean Kelly, chair NEU Regional
Council; Marika Asgari, Newcastle University UCU; Molly Storm, Revolutionary
Communist Party; Halimah Begum, Newcastle Green Party; Pam Wortley, vice-chair
Newcastle Stop the War; Geoff Abbott, Stand Up to Racism North East; Jane
Byrne, Independent Newcastle Councillor Monument Ward; Roger Nettleship, South
Tyneside Stop the War
Emergency online rally
Stop the War hosted an online public meeting on March 3 to discuss the
rapidly developing situation with almost 1,000 participants. Speakers include
Jeremy Corbyn MP, Tariq Ali, Maryam Eslamdoust (General Secretary, TSSA),
Lindsey German (StW), Kate Hudson (CND) and Daniel Kebede (General Secretary,
NEU, alongside political analyst Tritsa Parsi. The rally urged everyone to
build a stronger movement against the war in Iran and to do all they can to
stop Britain from getting further involved in this catastrophe that is
unfolding.
March to the US Embassy
A demonstration in London will march to the US Embassy on March 7,
assembling next to Victoria Tower Gardens on Milbank at noon. The demonstration
will be under the banners, "Stop Bombing Iran", and "Hands Off
Palestine and the Middle East".
Demonstration and peace vigil at Fairford US air base
The demonstration and peace vigil is being organised by Drone Wars UK, CND
and Oxfordshire Peace Campaign on March 7. The organisers write:
"The UK, too, is deeply complicit in Trump's war despite a government
campaign aimed at fooling the media and public into believing it is merely
standing on the side lines and defending its 'national interests'. US Air Force
attack aircraft from Lakenheath air base in the UK have deployed to the Middle
East, including F-35 jets which have moved to Saudi Arabia and F-15Es deployed
in Jordan. Special forces aircraft from Mildenhall air base have also flown to
the Middle East. Despite claiming that bases like Fairford and Diego Garcia
will not be used to bomb Iran, the UK has allowed US aircraft flying to the
Middle East for its military build-up to use bases such as Lakenheath,
Mildenhall, and Prestwick airport in Scotland as staging posts for overnight
rest stops and refuelling. Following the initial attacks on Iran, the UK
government has decided that US bases on UK territory can be used to attack
Iranian missile sites in Iran. UK Typhoon and F35 aircraft are also flying to
'defend ' Israeli and US forces and bases - freeing up aircraft for use in
attacks. It is highly likely that the UK has shared intelligence information
with the US in support of the attacks - for example information gained as a
result of RAF Reaper drone flights close to Iran aimed at provoking a response
from Iranian forces."
Regional demonstrations on Saturday, March 7, are being held in:
Exeter - 11am, Bedford Square
Durham - 12 noon, Framwellgate Bridge
Hull - 12 noon, Queen Victoria Square
Bournemouth - 12 noon, Bournemouth Square
Norwich - 12 noon, City Hall
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