In April 1958, the first march to Aldermaston, Britain’s bomb factory in Berkshire, unleashed a new movement which was to have global repercussions. It mobilised thousands against the Bomb and shaped radical protest for generations. The famous symbol produced for the march by artist Gerald Holtom became CND’s own symbol and is universally recognised as the sign of peace.
This Easter Sunday, 1st April, anti-nuclear campaigners from across Britain will gather at the Aldermaston Atomic Weapons Establishment in Berkshire to mark the 60th anniversary of that first Aldermaston march. Groups from Bristol, Bath, Leeds, Sheffield, Chesterfield, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Oxford, and Manchester are among those expected at the protest event.
A giant reproduction of the iconic CND logo will be installed in front of the bomb factory. It is part of a UK wide tour visiting over 20 sites, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol and the White Cliffs of Dover.
Kate Hudson, CND General Secretary, said:
“Protest, speeches, music and poems will recall the 60 years of campaigning against nuclear weapons since that the first path-breaking Aldermaston march, and we will look to the future. We will recall our movement’s many achievements as well as recommitting to protest and political action to eliminate all nuclear weapons.
“The world will not be safe from the horrors of nuclear warfare until we have achieved that goal. Those dangers cannot be imagined away, they remain a real and present threat unless concrete and bold actions are taken by our political leaders.”
Bruce Kent, CND vice president, said:
“It took 40 years to get votes for women. The ending of slavery took almost 50 years, so the fact that things take a long time doesn’t deter us. CND will keep campaigning and demanding change until all nuclear weapons around the world have been abolished.”
Notes
- CND at Aldermaston on Easter Sunday
Main Gate of AWE Aldermaston from 12 noon
Speeches will begin at 12.30 and the event will conclude around 2pm. - Further details of the event and #CNDat60 available at cnduk.org/CNDat60