Umbrellas against the war

Umbrellas against the war

By David Schaffer
BBC News Online, Manchester

The umbrellas were not just there to keep the rain off

Thousands of umbrellas provided minimal protection against the accompanying strong winds that whipped round Albert Square in Manchester.

While many demonstrators - some making their debut others obvious protest veterans - felt Tony Blair might not be listening, they were compelled to make their point anyway.

The banners sagged under the rain and the words of the rally speakers were often drowned out by constant blowing of whistles and beating of drums, but it seemed simply enough to be there.

Blair is definitely a man under pressure

Richard Searle, demonstration organiser

And even if the finer points of the anti-war arguments were lost, there was always the rank of stalls selling the paraphernalia of protests.

Just trying to find shelter from the elements became a full-time job for some.

Standing on the steps just inside the town hall was enough for Lorraine Wild, from Bolton, who said her protest history previously only stretched to demanding higher pay for nurses.

Resigned to the idea her demonstration will fall on deaf ears she was pessimistic but feeling defiant.

Some protesters said they feel a war in Iraq is inevitable

"I think that Tony Blair and George Bush are not taking any notice of the public's view on this," she said.

"I think they are going to go to war anyway, but it is important to make sure I voice my opposition anyway.

"What I don't understand is they have waited 12 years already, what difference does waiting another couple of months for the inspectors to finish their job make?"

Richard Searle, one of the march organisers, was more optimistic about the influence on Blair and Bush the demonstrations can have.

'Entirely peaceful'

He said: "Blair is definitely a man under pressure, and the impact of last month's million-strong demonstration in London has definitely had an effect.

"The fact that there has been the biggest backbench rebellion in 100 years, against this war, shows that."

Typically, as the last few words of the speakers at the rally rang out, and the crowds started to drift away, so did the rain.

However, with police confirming "the protest was entirely peaceful and there were no problems", the mass satisfaction of a job done well was left hanging in the air.