A spokesperson for North Manchester CND said a small crowd soon swelled as more people joined in through the afternoon and more than a thousand people took part in a candlelight vigil at 4pm in Piccadilly Gardens.
Margaret Gadian said the vigil was for all those who couldn't get to London, adding, "Initially there were just a few people, but this soon became 500 and then 1,000 who decided to march from Piccadilly gardens to the Peace Gardens near Manchester Town Hall."
There was an address made by march organiser John Jones from Crumpsall and local churchleaders. The march was peaceful but people were eventually asked to disperse by police.
Above & below: A million march in London in protest at plans for war on Iraq
From Manchester Evening News (17 Feb 2003)