Direct Action against the Bomb: 1960s and 1980s

The ever-useful London Rebel History calendar reminds us that this weekend sees at least two anniversaries, although not particularly 'landmark' ones, for the history of protest in Britain against nuclear weapons in its two great waves: late 1950s to 1960s; and 1980s, respectively.

21 [October]

Anti-nuclear direct action Committee of 100 launched, Euston, 1960.

22 [October]

1 million people attend CND rally against nukes, Hyde Park, 1983.

Debate about tactics was renewed in the second phase, with advocates of direct action advocating the need for more effective methods than appealing to politicians and trying to influence those in the corridors of power. The Solidarity group, members of which had participated in some of the most spectacular C100 actions (see previous posts listed below), produced a leaflet arguing for the continued relevance of their approach:

Of course the 1980s and subsequent decades were to produce their own, rather different, examples of sometimes long-sustained direct action, notably at Greenham Common and Faslane.

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Were They Bothered?

Some related sources for the earlier phase, indicating multiple ways in which the Committee of 100's tactics impinged upon the authorities, can be found in the National Archives.

NB. This list was compiled several years ago. A current search might turn up more recent releases and/or re-titled items, and some of these titles may have changed.

Admiralty

ADM 1/30660 Project LAMACHUS: Holy Loch Anti-Nuclear Demonstration Whitsun 1962 1962
ADM 1/28966 Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Committee of 100: Admiralty guidance 1963-1965 

Director of Public Prosecutions

DPP 2/3838 CHANDLER, Terence Norman, "Committee of 100" (London Committee): Appeal against conviction to the Court of Criminal Appeal by Chandler. Appeal refused 1964
DPP 2/3432 RANDLE, Michael Joseph and others ("Committee of 100"): appeal against conviction and sentence. Appeal dismissed 1962
DPP 2/3442 RANDLE, Michael Joseph and others ("Committee of 100"): appeal to the House of Lords against conviction. Appeals dismissed 1962
DPP 2/3678 MOULE, Peter and others ("Committee of 100"): conspiracy (to effect public mischief) S9 Official Secrets Acts 1911-1939. No action taken 1963 [Note: The naming of a defendant within this catalogue does not imply guilt].
DPP 2/4379 FARR, Kathleen: impersonation of HM The Queen at "Committee of 100" demonstration, "March of Shame", in Parliament Square, London, on 30 April 1967. Prosecution for sedition not in the public interest 1967 

Home Office

HO 325/163 Committee of 100 (Direct Action Group Against Nuclear Weapons): demonstration at Marham Royal Air Force Station, Norfolk on 11 May 1963; arrests under Official Secrets Act 1911 following trespass on airfield. Physical Description: With enclosure 1963 Jan 01-1963 Dec 31

Law Officers

LO 2/365 Applications for the attorney-general's fiat in Official Secrets cases: Committee of 100: consent 1964

Metropolitan Police inc. Special Branch

MEPO 2/11256 'Committee of 100': Special Branch reports concerning proposed demonstration at US Air Force Base at Ruislip at Easter 1964 1963-1964 

Ministry of Transport

MT 97/524 Road Service Licences: applications and refusals; transport of Committee of 100 to airfields 1961-1962

Prison Commission and Home Office Prison Dept.

PCOM 9/2208 ALLEGRANZA, Helen: member of the `Committee of 100'; at Central Criminal Court (CCC) on 30 January 1962 convicted of conspiracy to commit breach of Official Secrets Act; sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment; died [whilst in after] confinement 1962-1963

Prime Minister’s Office

PREM 11/3387 Demonstration in Trafalgar Square by nuclear disarmers: Prime Minister declined to see deputation from Committee of 100 1961
PREM 11/4284 Correspondence on activities of Committee of 100 1961-1963

Treasury

T 216/970 Personnel security: position of civil servants who are members of Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), Committee of 100 and Church of Scientology 1962 May 09 - 1964 May 01

Ministry of Works

WORK 20/327 Trafalgar Square: meetings of the Committee of 100 1960-1961
WORK 20/336 Trafalgar Square: meeting of the Committee of 100, 17 September 1961. 

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Previously on this blog:

"Indecency" in a Brighton Church, 50 years ago

Spies for Peace 1963: An Example of Libertarian Direct Action 

Spies for Peace: the (inside) story continued 

Greek Embassy, London, occupied: April 1967

The Committee of 100 alive and vocal in 1967: contents of 36pp magazine

New Pamphlet from Past Tense

(Reprint/new edition of a 1980s classic)

WE WANT TO RIOT, NOT TO WORK

The 1981 Brixton Riots

ISBN: 978-0-9565984-7-9

£5.00

“Between Friday, 10th April, 1981,  and Monday April 13th April 1981, serious disorder occurred in Brixton... when large numbers of persons, predominantly black youths, attacked police, police vehicles (many of which were totally destroyed), attacked the Fire Brigade, destroyed private premises and vehicles by fire, looted, ransacked and damaged shops...”

After more than a decade of repeated attacks, arrests, harassment, beatings, racist provocations by the local police and the Special Patrol Group, Brixton erupted in a massive uprising. The riot - followed by more in July, part of a nationwide wave of disorder - shocked the British state. Though quickly labelled ‘race riots’ by the press, in fact blacks and whites had fought side by side, in the first anti-police riots for more than a century.

We Want to Riot, Not to Work (originally published in 1982) combines rip-roaring personal accounts of the riots from unashamed participants, with a radical analysis of their causes, and the response of the authorities.

This publication can be bought online with paypal, at:
www.alphabetthreat.co.uk/pasttense/past tense publications

or by post:

write to
past tense
c/o 56a Info Shop
56 Crampton Street,
London
SE17 3AE

enclosing a cheque for £7.00 (including £2.00 Postage/Packing).

please make cheques payable to Past Tense Publications.

BULK ORDERS: If you would like a few copies to sell to your mates, your local bookshop or for a book stall, let Past Tense know, and they’ll do you a discount deal.

Radio documentary "Do You Remember?" [..the 1980s]

- by Olivia Lemmens, Belgium, 2013 [48mins]

In 2012 Olivia Lemmens and David Vercauteren met to interview [a number of activists] for research which they led about the social and political struggles in the United Kingdom since the coming of Thatcher to power until the present day.

Of these meetings and interviews was born a first radio documentary [about the 1980s]. The
second is on the way.

Here is a link which should lead directly to the possibility of downloading the radio documentary that was realized further to their stay in the UK between March and June 2012: https://soundcloud.com/olille/do-you-remember-olivia-lemmens-vo -

Do You Remember?

A sound documentary realized by Olivia Lemmens, Belgium, 48'

A sound documentary about the social and political struggles in England during the 80's. Some people speak about resistance, about solidarity, about community. Others speak about defeat. Others know only a little thing. How to keep alive past memories ?

Contacts for distribution of this documentary would be welcome.