Revolting students
Outrage against Tony Blair's policy over Iraq escalated last weekend as hundreds of Oxford students took to the streets in London.
Saturday's anti-war protest, allegedly the biggest demonstration in British history, was attended by students from most Oxford colleges who filled forty buses, with many more travelling to London by public transport.
The most represented colleges were Wadham, Oriel, Queens, Ruskin and New. James Lazou, of the Oxford Students Stop the War group, told The OxStu that between two and three hundred Oxford students made it to a designated meeting place but he suspected there were many more who simply couldn't get through the crowds.
The aim of the demonstration was to show politicians, especially Blair, that the electorate will not support war on Iraq.
James Lazou said of Blair: "His preaching twisted morals made him sound like a madman! He's lost the plot and is making our country into a terrorist target, its time he stepped down!"
Another activist, Hannah Stoddart of Wadham, told OxStu: "To see so many people to devote a day to peaceful protest and take a stance against the current 'gung-ho' foreign policy of both the US and Britain really gave me faith in humanity!"
Mike Hugman, a first time protester from Exeter College, commented: "This is the first time I've had to think about an issue which is so immediate and where the consequences will be irreversible. It was inspiring to see so many people who had made the effort to understand the issue."
The protesters marched from the Embankment past Parliament to Hyde Park where speakers as diverse as Charles Kennedy, Jesse Jackson and Miss Dynamite voiced their concerns about the war to a crowd estimated at around 1.5 million.
The University "Stop the War" movement continues to meet Tuesdays at Corpus Christi and a candlelight vigil is due to be held at Carfax on Saturday.
13th Feb 2003