Future generations walk-out on war on Iraq

Mar 26 2003 By Owen Hughes, Bangor And Anglesey Mail

ANTI-WAR activists stepped up their protests this week as they took to the streets to voice opposition to the war in Iraq.

Schoolchildren in Bethesda led the way on Thursday morning when 200 pupils held a spontaneous demonstration outside Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen.

And on Saturday more than 100 peace campaigners held a anti-war rally in Bangor High Street. A vigil has also been running at Bangor Clock since missile strikes on Baghdad signalled the start of war last Wednesday.

Pupils in Bethesda were the first to protest when they left classes to voice their anger at the decision to go to war. Around half the 450 schoolchildren gathered outside the school gates and a number marched into Bethesda town centre. They later held smaller demonstrations at lunchtime and after school.

Protest co-ordinator Gwenllian Dafydd, 14, said: "The initial protest was a spontaneous demonstration by pupils over the situation in Iraq. Lots of people feel verystrongly over the issue and we all think that violence is wrong. There must be a better way. As we cannot vote we decided to protest in this way to get our message across."

Irfon Morris, assistant headteacher at Ysgol Dyffryn Ogwen, said: "We had a spontaneous demonstration by pupils, it was orderly and in the main pupils were very well-behaved. Some of the pupils hold strong opinions over the war. We now feel they have made their point." On Saturday protesters met in the town centre to listen to speakers, which included Conwy AM Gareth Jones, voice their disquiet over the conflict.

Meanwhile Eric Hacker,from Bangor British Legion, asked the community to support the troops on the ground now that the conflict had begun.

He said: "Whatever your viewpoint the soldiers and their families need our support more than ever. I would ask people to show they are backing them."