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| Sunday, 23 February 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Biggest public demonstration ever in the UK Some 2 million people attended the biggest ever public demonstration in British history to oppose the impending war against Iraq. In scenes reminiscent of Princess Diana's funeral, people filled all the major roads in Central London leading to Hyde Park where the main rally was held. Outside Central London, the streets were so quiet and deserted - it seemed everyone was going to the march. All the major TV stations came to cover the whole proceedings of the rally's main programme and The Daily Mirror - arguably now the biggest newspaper in the UK - proudly declared itself as one of the sponsors. Even the most right-wing newspapers and Rupert Murdock's Sky News were grudgingly impressed with this unprecedented display of people power in Britain. - London's licensed taxi drivers estimate they lost 500,000 Sterling Pounds in fares due to road closures - Event organisers the Muslim Association of Britain handed out 15,000 banners - Protesters, chanting "Make Tea Not War" drank an estimated 187,500 litres of tea - Many demonstrators avoided long queues to mobile toilets in Hyde Park by visiting the plush bathrooms of Park Lane's hotels - 4,000 police were on duty but there were only seven arrests - 0.0007 per cent of the crowd - The event cost 50,000 Sterling Pounds, the largest expense being a huge 24,000 Sterling Pounds TV screen - 1,500 coaches (buses) came from across Britain - More than 50 tons of rubbish (garbage) was collected - the same amount left on Millennium Eve. ARENA Peace Exchange |
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