Tens of thousands of people participated in anti-war protests on March 15 and March 19, in different cities of the world to mark their unwavering opposition to the invasion and conquest of Iraq by the US led coalition.

At least 200 people were arrested in US antiwar protests on March 19, 2008. In Washington DC, protesters blocked the entrance to Internal Revenue Service, the US tax collection agency, with signs that read: "Stop Paying to kill". They waved upside-down US flags, a traditional sign of distress. "Bush and Cheney, leaders failed, Bush and Cheney belong in jail," they chanted.

In San Francisco, Market Street in the central business district was a scene of continuous protest. Protestors hung a large banner off the city's famous Golden Gate Bridge.

In Boston people blocked access to a military recruitment centre. Said an activist "Silently waiting for Congress to act on this war in 2009 will condemn thousands more people to injury and senseless death. Enough is enough."

Across the US thousands of Americans participated in actions against war and occupation on March 15, including about 10,000 people in Los Angeles alone.

Part of lead-up to the March 19 events was Iraq Veteran's Against the War's "Winter Soldier" event. In this event, retired and serving soldiers brought to the fore the criminal nature of the occupations. They provided testimony on the daily killings and beatings of civilians, raiding and destruction of homes, bombing of ancient buildings and museums, the brutal and inhuman conditions forced on prisoners, the racism and dehumanizing of the peoples of Iraq and Afghanistan and of the soldiers themselves. They apologized to the Iraqi people and condemned the criminal character of the occupation.

In London, Trafalgar Square was packed by well over 50,000 people for the anti-war rally on March 15 which was followed by a march on Parliament. In Glasgow, over 5000 people participated in the anti-war rally.

In Canada, there were protest actions in at least 20 cities. Big demonstrations took place in Toronto, Montreal and Ottawa. Protestors carried placards declaring "Defeat Canada's War Government," and "Canada Needs an Anti-War Government!" Still other signs had slogans such as "Canada out of NATO" and "Dismantle NATO."

In Dublin, Ireland, protestors called for all US troops to get out of the Shannon air base.

In Prague, Czech Republic, demonstrators carried a large banner reading "No Bases" which expressed their continued opposition to US plans for a radar base in the Czech Republic as part of its "missile defence" system. In Sweden, protestors marched through the streets of capital Stockholm carrying banners that read, "Yankees Go Home" and "Five Years of War, One Million Dead."

In Spain, citizens demanded that Spanish troops deployed to Afghanistan, Haiti and Lebanon be brought home immediately.