Nans and Grans, Fess up time (lighthearted!)

I helped block the streets around the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain to try to stop the all white South African cricket team play against the West Indies during the days of Apartheid. I am not sure that I would do that again as the police simply forced us to move car by car but we did delay the start by a few hours leading to publicity world wide.
My home town of Glasgow made a wonderful gesture at that time by renaming the Square where the South African Embassy or High Commission? was located "Nelson Mandela Square". A lovely passive aggressive way of getting the message across. Made me proud to be a Weegie.?

I demonstrated against anti-semitism in London in the mid-60s (I am not Jewish). But after that work and family kept me busy.

I would have gone to the Stop the War demo, my DS and DDiL went but I had a previously booked uncancellable engagement on that day. I cannot now remember what it was, but I was very p*ssed off that it stopped me going.

I must have lived in the wrong part of the U.K. because news of these marches never seemed to reach us until after they’d taken place! I very much admire anyone who does march for good causes though

I'd actually agree with you, eazybee, that writing letters and forcing the great and good to send considered replies is more effective. I've done my share of that.

At grammar school, I organised a very badly thought out and doomed to failure protest against school uniform rules, involving us all ripping down our hems and persuading every other girl to do so too. Followed by us all sewing them up again that same night.

At college, I joined a demo demanding full student grants for all. Halfway through I realised I didn't even agree with it when a friend explained to a passerby that it wasn't fair that she didn't get a grant and I did, as her parents had more financial commitments than mine. These included the two cars, the big house in Cheshire and the holiday home in France.

Recently I've been on the WASPI demos in London, which have all three clashed with other major events, but were no less well supported for all that (not given much media publicity though). I found them very cathartic.

The one I regret missing was the Iraq war protest, when I was out of the country.

I'm afraid by the time I became more politically aware I had children so missed out on most of the above. Made up for it since.

The only time I protested was about nursery education locally. I didn't notice that when the BBC cameraman approached all my friends backed away so I ended up being the one interviewed for the local news.

I was at Greenham too. Embracing the base. It was an amazingly uplifting experience. About 12 coaches went from Edinburgh overnight. It was December 12th 1983. I can't remember how we organised ourselves as it was long before mobile phones!
During that day I was handed a collecting bucket for Greenpeace and it was filled very quickly.
Since then I've become a bit more cynical. I protested against the Iraq war and marched for Make Poverty History in 2005.
I don't know if my demonstrating had any effect but it is empowering to follow your conscience.

My first demonstrations were in the 1960s against apartheid and the Springboks coming to Ireland to play rugby. Later, when I moved to England it was to support the miners and demonstrate for equal rights and safe, legal, medical abortions. Recently, it was to support a second referendum.

I've always had my own views and thoughts about the world and how it effected me and mine but I have never gone on a march.
To be honest I was busy working trying to support myself and my family in hard times.
If you feel strong enough about whatever and have the time speak up.
I admire people who are totally committed and try to do something about it.

I have never demonstrated, I was way too busy earning a living.

I have never demonstrated against anything, although I have written letters about various issues, and received considered replies; some have actually been acted upon. Far more effective.

I marched with the CND as a teenager (and was later told that all letters to and from CND members were intercepted by MI5, I wonder if that's true?) I hope they enjoyed mine to my German penfriend

Here in NZ I marched with friends against the Council spraying a deadly poison over schools and kindergartens in order to kill a moth they had not actually found...and never did.

Both protests were ignored.

I protested at the anti poll tax march in Leeds. 1990 from memory.

I’ve come late in life to protests- I’ve been on the anti Iraq war march, save the local A and E march , 2 anti Brexit marches and am thinking of joining Extinction Rebellion although I’m not sure I want to get arrested- but I guess it would be something to tell the grandchildren.

Another who wouldn’t have known about a protest march. Life was very sheltered for me.

Mamissimo ?

I wouldn't have known how to get to a protest march or where one was or what to protest about. How did you all find these things out?

Expansion of the nuclear plant at Dounreay.

animal rights ...and i would do the same now

Anniebach - such memories! I skipped school for a day when I was 18 to join a demo in London organised by the NUS against education cuts. We sat down in Park Lane to block the traffic and the police very kindly picked us up and plopped us on the pavement. I was home for tea.......the six o’clock news came on and it went very quiet as my parents watched me being carried off the road. ?

I was leaving the house to travel up to London on a coach we had booked to join a demonstration, my father said ‘ take care ‘ my mother said ‘don’t get yourself on television’ !

Seal culling in the 80's.

Slightly amusing story - after writing to my MP he replied on Parliament stationery, but it was delivered to the wrong house. Two lovely older ladies brought it to our house - they must have thought it was very important - they handed it over as if it were the crown jewels and one of them actually dropped a curtsey. To 17 year old me!

silver??

I was at greenham common in 1983 when everyone held hands round the base. It’s something which my children are quite impressed with but if I am honest I went along without much understanding. Am pleased now that i did though.
Then in the late 80s we marched a number of times against the rail link in Kent.

Nothing. I did buy Eve of Destruction by Barry Maguire though. I agreed with some of the protesters but never thought of joining them.