London: peace vigil planned outside US embassy

Veteran Catholic peace campaigner Bruce Kent will be holding a lone vigil outside the US Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London from 10.00am to 5.00pm this Saturday 20 April. The current CND vice-president and co-ordinator of the abolition of war, Bruce has planned the vigil to express solidarity with a broad coalition of peace campaigners planning to hold a protest in Washington DC on the same day.

The coalition says economic imperialism and US militarism are two sides of the same coin: "From the World Bank to the West Bank; a lot of people are beginning to make the connection." Bruce Kent is asking supporters to visit him briefly throughout the day and leave their messages to President Bush for delivery at the end of the vigil. Members of Pax Christi and Christian CND, Achin Vanaik, author and leading Indian peace activist, and Muhammad Tahseen, human rights and peace activist from Pakistan, will be among Bruce Kent's visitors. Achin and Muhammad are currently touring the country with the Stop the War Coalition, speaking about communal violence, the 'war on terrorism' and the continuing tension on the sub-continent.

Bruce Kent said, "the London vigil is a small attempt to show appreciation for the courage and determination of our fellow peace workers and their demonstration in Washington."