London: Thousands in Gaza march, vigils and prayers for peace

Marchers coming down Portland Place

At the end of a week which saw so much death and violence in the world, thousands of people came to London to take part in several major peace events - a national demonstration for peace in Gaza, a vigil marking the anniversary of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki and ecumenical prayer services.

From noon onwards, central London came to a standstill as an estimated 150,000 people from across the UK - of all ages and faiths - among them young families with children - marched peacefully from BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place to Hyde Park, passing the US Embassy. So many people arrived to take part, that by the time the front of the march reached Hyde Park, the end still had not left the BBC.

Campaigners called for an end to Israel's assault on Gaza, and urged the British government to implement an immediate embargo on arms sales to Israel.

Bruce Kent, vice chair of CND and Pax Christi was one of the speakers and lamented the fact that it was the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki. He said that "the people of Gaza are human beings like us" and deserved to be be treated justly. Israel, he said, was behaving like South Africa in the days of Apartheid and wanted to keep the Palestinians as second class citizens.

In a powerful speech, Barnaby Raine, who organised the Jewish bloc on the march, said that he was there because of his own Jewish history. "The lesson of the Holocaust is not that we should close our eyes to the suffering of others" he said.. "the lesson of the Holocaust is that crimes are perpetrated when people forget that we are all human beings."

Barnaby said his grandparent "knew what it was like to be booted out of their homes" .. he went on to say he was not there just because he was Jewish but because he was a human being. He also criticised the BBC for their coverage of the onslaught on Gaza.

See his speech here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=owQNoLiBdEQ#t=65

In Victoria, many passers-by joined Pax Christi's prayer vigil and information stall to mark the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki which was held in Westminster Cathedral Piazza.

In the evening, the annual interfaith memorial service for Blessed Franz Jagerstaetter, a conscientious objector who was executed in 1943 for his refusal to join Hitler's army, was held in the Sacred Heart Chapel in Horseferry Road. There were readings and prayers for all those who have resisted wars and the victims of war. Candles were lit as a symbol of individual prayers and a sign of hope against the darkness of war and violence.

The service was followed by a procession to the Peace Pagoda in Battersea Park, led by Buddhist monk the Reverend Gyoro Nagase with other members of the Nipponzan Myohoji Buddhist Order and representatives from several London churches. There were interfaith prayers and ceremonies for the 74,000 people who died in the atomic bombing of Nagasaki in 1945 and prayers for peace in the world. As the sun began to set, colourful paper lanterns representing the souls of the dead, were set afloat on the river Thames.