Middle School
Worksheets
Protesting the Iraq War
Opposition to the War in Iraq began even before the war started. Once it became known that President Bush planned to invade Iraq, anti-war organizations started to organize protests.
These protests were coordinated by anti-war groups around the world. Many protests were planned in Europe. Others were planned in the United States and in the Middle East. As the anti-war movement spread, protests were planned on every continent. Beginning in 2002, anti-war activists protested in city after city around the globe.
As the war drew closer, one massive worldwide protest was planned. Millions of people in about sixty countries and about eight hundred cities would participate. The date was set for February 15, 2003.
A large protest took place in London, England. Even though England's Prime Minister Tony Blair was an ally of President Bush and would support the war, many people in England opposed it. About one million people attended the protest in London, including celebrities and fashion models who spoke out against the coming war.
An even larger demonstration was held in Rome - so large that it made the Guinness Book of World Records. In Italy and in other European countries, there was great opposition to the war. In France, another country that was a traditional ally of the United States (like Great Britain), opposition to the upcoming war was also strong.
