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Stop the War hits back ahead of rally
Group points to history of being proved right on British wars

DESPITE being targeted for a “hurricane of malicious attacks,” Stop the War will bring thousands to the streets of London today for a second mass demonstration against the Syrian air strikes.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was one of several political figures harangued by right-wing media sources over the last week for his longtime support of the campaign.

Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds insisted yesterday that her leader should not attend the organisation’s events because it stood against the party’s values.

But Stop the War chairman Andrew Murray hit back at a fundraising dinner, saying: “Stop the War has faced a hurricane of malicious attacks in recent weeks, largely as a proxy means of trying to undermine Jeremy Corbyn.

“These attacks serve only to distract from the government’s crumbling case for war in Syria — and the fact that our movement has been proved right in its campaigns against the disastrous conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya.

“Stop the War has nothing to apologise for and much to be proud of.”

The event, which Mr Corbyn attended despite calls to do otherwise, also saw musician Brian Eno and actress Francesca Martinez attend.

Today’s demonstration will see an expected 10,000 people march from outside BBC Broadcasting House on Portland Place to Downing Street.

Stop the War convener Lindsey German argued that a continued campaign was absolutely necessary after Chancellor George Osborne’s comments that the air strikes had given Britain “its mojo back.”

“He’s made it very clear what this is all about,” she added.

“It’s about Britain having a place at the table with the other great powers.

“We think there’s no other justification for it at all.”

Calais aid group London2Calais organiser Syed Bokhari told the Star he would be attending the march because the group was “opposed to all imperialist intervention in Syria.

“Britain should be using its resources to welcome refugees into our society, not dropping bombs on Syria while simultaneously locking out refugees from the region.”

Fellow anti-war protester Sequoyah De Souza Vigneswaren said he came down from Leeds because “we have a moral duty to oppose the war crimes that are committed for strategic national-interest in our names.

“It is not just our right, but our obligation to hold our imperial elites to account.

“It is the very least we should do if we actually believe in the values of internationalism, peace and social justice.”

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