Tens of thousands protested against war in the United States this weekend. In New York over 20,000 converged in Central Park in the largest U.S. anti-war rally this year. Thousands also gathered in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Portland, Oregon and many smaller cities.

In Italy up to 1.5 million took to the streets this weekend as most large cities hosted anti-war demonstrations

In Belgium 1100 anti-war activists were arrested outside an air force base where U.S. nuclear bombs are allegedly stockpiled. Protesters tried to enter the base and occupy it to demand the removal of the bombs.

In Australia on Saturday, about 300 people rallied outside Pine Gap, a joint U.S.-Australian military intelligence base in the Outback to protest possible military strikes on Iraq. Established in 1968, Pine Gap is an intelligence and satellite relay station run jointly by the United States and Australia. It would likely relay intelligence for any U.S.-led military strike on Iraq.

Tape:

• Saul Williams, hip-hop poet who wrote “Not In Our Name” and “September 11.”
• Congressmember Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), a leading Congressional critic of a U.S. invasion of Iraq. She was defeated in the Georgian Democratic primary in September largely because Republicans are allowed to cast votes in Democratic primaries in Georgia.
• Shokriea Yaghi, her husband, Ali, was one of 1200 Muslim men who were detained by the U.S. government after Sept. 11. After nine months in detention, Ali, a father of three, was secretly deported back to Jordan. His family and lawyer were given no notice. He had lived in the United States for 17 years.
• Mira Nair, acclaimed Indian film director responsible for such films as Salaam Bombay! and Mississippi Masala.
• Tim Robbins, actor, film director and social activist, best known for directing “Dead Man Walking” and his performance in “Bob Roberts.”