By: Jodie Evans
We started our day with a conversation and press availability with other anti-war and weapons organizations from the UK.
- David MacKenzie was moderating and is Nuke Watch and currently acting secretary of Scottish CND
- Janet Fenton, Secure Scotland. She is also currently a vice-chair of Scottish CND as well as working with Rebecca at XR Peace
- Rebecca Johnson, XR Peace
- Angelika Clausen, IPPNW-Germany
- Dagmar, Plymouth and XR Peace
- Ros Cook, WILPF and the campaign for a law on Ecocide
- David Kelly, Glasgow CND
- Lynn Jameson, SCND chair and ban the bomb
It was a lively discussion about the needs of our movement to grow to stop the weaponization of the planet and the costs we were already seeing.
We walked from their to the underground a few stops to join the amazing drum corps of about 30 who lead us to the offices of XR where we were joined by hundreds. Speakers kicked off the rally with the costs of war to people, refugees and the planet. (I live streamed on fb) And we began the many mile walk to BAE who make nuclear missiles and are one of the largest producers of weapons globally. The march was lively and we made many new friends, Pink is popular in Scotland. At BAE we held another rally where I was able to speak about the War Economy and Peace Economy and the need to be under one tent together globally to #CutThePentagon as it affects the entire world.
We dash from the rally with many others to the Buchanan steps at the base of the Glasgow Theater which makes for a great place to have a rally. The landing is high enough for all to see and the sound system covers a large area, and no cops to bother you. The cops here are rather pushy and physical.
We heard from a fabulous line up of Peace and Justice speakers from the US and UK interspersed with David Rovics delighting the crowd with anti-imperialism lyrics with his awesome voice. Nancy Mancias organized and hosted the rally beautifully, with speakers included from the Mariana Islands who are already feeling the devastation of the US aggression on China and a refugee from Afghanistan pleading for his people. I finished the night off reminding everyone that even in COVID arms are for hugging not for killing.