On the last weekend of January ISR along with Socialist Student members and supporters organised a number of really good actions against the occupation of Iraq over our weekend of action.

Below are some reports of these for you to have a look at.

 Have a look at some of the pictures from the London protest

London. Report by Suzanne Beishon, Hackney ISR

On 29 January, on the day before the elections in occupied Iraq, ISR and Socialist Students in London organised a protest outside Aegis Defence Services Ltd.

Aegis was given a $293 million contract to co-ordinate security operations amongst thousands of private companies in Iraq by the Pentagon. Whilst over 100,000 Iraqi’s have died, Aegis is making massive profits. Our protest outside 118 Piccadilly was both enthusiastic and attractive to passers by, and we met and spoke to many young people who were all very angry at the situation in Iraq.

Rosemary Lew, from the US, who first got involved in the anti-war movement when Dick Cheney visited her campus in Wyoming, said: “It’s hard to have an election where people can’t vote in it because of fear and the lack of safe polling places, so the whole thing is a farce”.

Jack Nakama, also from the US, agreed: “I think it’s just a sham, it’s just something to legitimise why we went in there, and say that we can let the Iraqis control their own destiny but it’s really not. It’s just a top down strategy, power is coming from the top, it’s not coming from the grass roots. Democracy comes from the people, not from big corporations or US presidents”.

Finally, Florian Koosbauer said: “I think it’s no real election, it’s far more of a dictatorship”. These opinions really show the growing consciousness of young people today and the anger there is towards the continuing occupation of Iraq. The protest was really lively and I think our ability to chant and rhyme with ‘Aegis’ impressed all, including the police.

Swansea. Report from Sarah Mayo, Swansea ISR

Swansea ISR and Socialist Students got a good response and attracted some of the most politicised young people in town. We found that even amongst young people who are against the war and occupation there are some illusions in the Iraqi elections – a feeling that at least it gives the Iraqi people a chance to vote. But people also wanted to discuss with us and hear what ISR and Socialist Students think.

Many agreed straightaway that the Americans had the real power (including control over the oil) and that the elections were undemocratic and likely to increase religious and ethnic tensions and the risk of civil war. One young woman commented: “What sort of democracy is it when so many continue to die at the hands of the Americans?”

Leicester. Report from Tom Penman

Despite the rain and cold many students at Leicester University came up to the ballot box to vote in Socialist Students’ own “Iraqi Election”.

The ballot box itself had been painted by a student member to include quotes and a caricature of George W Bush. You had to push your ballot into his mouth to vote - probably the only way to get a sensible idea into his head!

As well as voting, students could get their very own ‘Pocket Prime Minister’ - a small cut-out of Tony Blair so that “You too can feel like a US President with the Prime Minister in your pocket”.

The ballot box and the “Pocket Prime Ministers” showed that Leicester students are becoming more imaginative in their protesting, conveying important messages with wit and humour. Both went down very well.

Hastings. Report from Thomas House, Sussex University Socialist Students.

Socialists in Hastings campaigned against the occupation of Iraq using leaflets and petitions - the wind defeated our original idea to have a ballot! There was a good response, with many workers and young people recognising that the elections will not bring democracy.

We were out at the same time as a group of men in uniform recruiting for the army - much like in Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11 - who walked past our stall twice before stopping to talk and saying that most of the troops now in Iraq would probably agree with us!

Mansfield. Report from Lindsay Wheatcroft.

Members of the recently formed Mansfield Young Socialists held a ballot on Iraq amongst students of West Nottinghamshire College over lunchtime on 27 January. The votes cast all called for the withdrawal of the occupying forces, and over half of those who took part supported the idea of offering financial support to Iraqi trade unions. We sold five copies of the socialist and several students asked to join.