Friday's anti-war-against-Iraq rally was the biggest protest which has ever been held in this city. The Age quoted organizer estimates of 200,000 people, the Herald Sun estimated over 120,000, while Channel 9 news, I'm told, put it at 250,000 citizens.

The biggest protests before this in Melbourne were an anti Vietnam War rally in 1970 with 70,000 and a 1990 workers rights defense rally with 100,000 people.

Neither The Age, the Herald Sun, or the TV news I saw mentioned the attainment of this new record, though they have been known to make a big deal out of less important records (e.g. coldest July day for umpty years).

Reporting by major media was otherwise reasonable, considering, though The Age headlined "Peace rally *clogs* Melbourne city streets" and the Herald Sun took the opportunity to rewrite history with a very muddy brush: "in [the September 2000 S11 protest] more than 10,000 protesters were involved in violent behavior"! (At that anti-WTO protest only a handful of protesters were charged with violent behavior, and fewer were convicted). The Hun did point out that Friday's protest was peaceful.

Mr Howard has stated he will not be influenced by any protests. However the incredible numbers involved here might dent his ego, which has become dangerously overblown due to too many photographs with and too much compliance with leaders of more powerful countries.

I pray that the implied threat of his party's ejection by voters at the next election will have a positive effect on Mr Howard, so that the murder of Iraqi civilians by bombs and Australian citizens by terrorists is made less likely.

Photos: The first four are of some of the crowd at Federation Square. 'Junkheap Square' looks full already, but after these were taken more people were still marching in for half an hour! Next are a couple of the anti-war puppets including a wonderful 'Bush and his Howard puppet' job, then some of the marchers in Swanston Street.

From the ground it was impossible to see more than a fraction of the peace supporters at any time, go here to see the incredible attendance more clearly:
www.melbourne.indymedia.org/front.php3

Our Future: The VicPeace website has information about coming anti-war events, and you can register for the newsletter to stay informed: www.vicpeace.org/