A wide range of anti-war activists, trade unionists and MPs are joining the 20 June International Meeting Against War in London as part of delegations from 23 countries, reports Feyzi Ismail

The American war machine is moving quickly. The latest reckless war against Iran has set the Middle East on fire and is a massive escalation of Trump’s war drive. It comes after regime change in Venezuela, bombing in Syria, Yemen, Iraq, Nigeria and Somalia, threats to annex Greenland and attacks on Colombia and Cuba. The genocide unleashed in Gaza is far from over.

It won’t end there, as Israel – the US’s garrison-state in the Middle East – helps in the bombing campaign against Iran and uses the crisis to drop bombs on Lebanon and block aid to Gaza. The justification we are told is that Iran poses an imminent threat to the US, but also that it had to happen anyway.

Large swathes of Europe and elsewhere are not buying it. They are disgusted by politicians who want to appease Trump and prioritise defence spending over much needed welfare. Young people fear a future with few prospects, and many are rejecting proposals for conscription.

Now we need to organise this sentiment into a renewed anti-war movement that has the social weight to challenge Trump’s hubris and put an end to the imperial war drive. The movements at national level are crucial, but they need to come together in a Europe-wide force that can coordinate millions across the continent in solidarity with people in the Middle East, Latin America, Africa and beyond.

The International Meeting Against War in Paris last October, attended by thousands of trade unionists, was the start of such an initiative. It continues in London this June, and some 45 trade-union branches in Britain so far, across transport, education and health, have passed motions in support of the meeting. At a national level, the PCS, TSSA, NEU, RMT and the Bakers’ Union are all backing the meeting. Trade-union support is central to ensuring it makes an impact.

The urgency of the situation could hardly be more clear. Counterfire reached out to trade unionists and activists across Europe to ask them why they were coming.

Felix Kreklow-Rojas, an organiser of the school strikes against conscription in Germany, which recently held demonstrations in over a hundred towns and cities all over the country, said,

‘the slogan “we want to live, love, and learn – not die in your wars” became especially popular among young people during the last election. With it, we wanted to make one thing clear: these are your wars, wars we don’t want anything to do with. That’s why being in London on 20 June is so important.’

Former MP and co-chair of BSW North-Rhine Westfalia Andrej Hunko said,

‘the international conference in London on 20 June is necessary as our governments are pushing our societies to be kriegstüchtig (ready for war). This is especially the case in Britain, France and Germany. It is crucial to stop them and to bring together peace-loving people internationally.’

And Ulrike Eifler, a trade-union secretary in Würzburg and member of the executive committee of Die Linke (The Left Party) in Germany said,

‘the gravestones of the fallen soldiers of the First and Second World Wars bear not the names of the ruling class, but our names – the names of industrial mechanics, electricians and tram drivers. That is why the growing threat of war worries me. Because once again, those in power are sending us into a war in which we have nothing to gain but everything to lose. As a trade unionist, there is no better place for me than London on 20 June.’

Franck Servel, a union activist in France said,

‘London is where for over two years now the biggest demonstrations in Europe against the genocide in Palestine have taken place with Stop the War. Faced with the race to war, and skyrocketing military spending, it is important to gather all our forces, including trade unions, in order to stop the governments that are dragging the world into barbarism. That is why I will be in London on 20 June.’

Fatiha Pollet, a teacher from the south of France, echoes the significance of the conference in London:

‘London is where hundreds of thousands of people have been gathering to speak out against the ongoing genocide in Palestine, where people have accepted to take the risk of being imprisoned for holding a sign saying, ‘I support Palestine Action’ – people of all colours, ages, genders and social backgrounds united by the fight against war – and where injustice will not be tolerated. This is why I will be in London on 20 June.’

Another teacher from France said,

‘numerous geopolitical conflicts have erupted in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America. Governments have henceforth pushed new re-militarisation programmes by leeching onto necessary social-service funds. In France, many schools now have “defence” classes to introduce young children to the army and, in a general sense, to war. It is imperative that the working class remains united against these predatory measures, which only benefit the elites and the weapons manufacturers. That is why I shall be in London on 20 June, and I invite all those who believe the same to join us.’

In Italy, Maurizio Coppola, who coordinates Power to the People, a left party formed in 2017, said,

‘we are facing a historical moment. Under the Trump administration, US imperialism wants to impose its dominance all over the world using all forms of war, from economic terrorism to direct and heavy military intervention. The complicity of Europe reinforces the war economy. Increasing military budgets and austerity measures, while reintroducing mandatory military service and repressing dissent, is only undermining social and democratic rights. Gathering in London for the anti-war conference on 20 June is vital.’

María Teresa Pérez, Podemos’ International Secretary in Spain said,

‘the International Meeting Against War in London will be a very important expression of European opposition to rearmament and to Western imperialism. We call on every political and social organisation and movement in Europe to participate and to raise our collective voice against the war regime that is currently being imposed. The time is now.’

And finally, Sophie Johnson, secretary of Stop the War Scotland and Unison member said,

‘I’m going to the international anti-war conference because there has never been a more important time to stand up to our leaders’ militarism. Barely a day goes by without another politician or pundit telling us we need to be “war ready”. Like millions of others, I have no interest in going to war for the likes of Donald Trump or any other leader. At a time when governments are preparing for war, we need the strongest possible international movement for peace. It will fall to ordinary people like us to resist the push toward more war, the astronomical rise in military spending, and the attacks on working-class living standards that come with it.’

The only way to stop the American war machine is organising against it on a mass scale. We must move as fast, and we must be strategic, mobilising ever larger sections of society across Europe in coordinated action, between the streets and the workplaces.

International Meeting Against War
Saturday 20 June, 1-5pm
Central Hall Westminster, SW1H 9NH

Book your ticket here

Download and print the model motion to pass at your trade union branch/organisation

From this month’s Counterfire freesheet