How we campaign

CND demonstrations

Over the years, CND has probably been best known for the Easter Ban The Bomb marches from Aldermaston in Berkshire to Trafalgar Square in London; thousands of people have attended with banners, placards, bands and a few blisters. In recent years these kind of large scale demonstrations have once again been seen, this time in the Demonstrations Against the War on Iraq; in fact, on 15th February 2003 CND helped to organise the largest protest rally the capital has ever seen.

Furthermore, there are still rallies in city centres in places such as Glasgow, Leeds, Birmingham, Oxford and Manchester and at bases such as Faslane in Scotland and Devonport in Plymouth where the submarines and their nuclear-armed missiles are based. These events are peaceful, legal and carefully organised. Their purpose is publicity but they also act as meeting and morale-boosting occasions, particularly for members of small or isolated CND groups.

Other demonstrations may feature Non Violent Direct Actions (NVDA); these are peaceful actions where nuclear bases are typically blockaded or entered, usually by small groups, either over or through security fences. Those taking part are prepared to be arrested. Every effort is made to ensure that only these volunteers are involved. Whilst there may be a small amount of damage to property – for instance to fences - great care is taken to make sure that there is no violence towards people. Demonstrators do not do anything that might provoke violence.

Click on the following links to read more about peaceful protestors:

BBC NEWS | Wales: Chained war sit-in arrests

BBC NEWS | Scotland: CND leader fined after protest

GUARDIAN UNLIMITED |Special reports | Waging their own war

TELEGRAPH | News | News in brief

CND - Behind the scenes >>