List of protests in the United Kingdom
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/UK_Anti_Bush_visit_protest_%28retouched%29.jpg/142px-UK_Anti_Bush_visit_protest_%28retouched%29.jpg)
This is a list of protests and protest movements in the United Kingdom. Protest in the UK has concerned issues such as suffrage in the 19th and early 20th centuries, parliamentary reform from the Chartists to the present day, poverty, wages and working conditions, fuel prices, war, human rights, immigration (both for and against), fathers' rights, LGBTQ rights and climate change. In Northern Ireland, protest marches have been particularly contentious, including Bloody Sunday.
Around April 2019 London's Metropolitan Police decided, as a matter of policy, to stop providing crowd estimates unless there were specific reasons to do so (criminal justice, national security).[1] This policy appears to have been reversed in late 2023, with the media reporting official police estimates for crowds from October that year, as shown in the table.
By size
[edit]By cause
[edit]Suffrage and democracy
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/British_suffragette_clipped.jpg/125px-British_suffragette_clipped.jpg)
Poverty
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/34/Makepovhistory_edin_rjl.jpg/125px-Makepovhistory_edin_rjl.jpg)
- 1920 blind march
- Merthyr Rising 1831
- Hunger marches, National Hunger March, 1932
- Jarrow March
- Make Poverty History
Labour disputes
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/Miners_strike_rally_London_1984.jpg/150px-Miners_strike_rally_London_1984.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/36/20050523_012_bristol_bbc_picket.jpg/150px-20050523_012_bristol_bbc_picket.jpg)
- 1842 General Strike
- Welsh coal strike of 1898
- Tonypandy Riot
- British police strikes in 1918 and 1919
- Battle of George Square
- 1926 United Kingdom general strike
- Invergordon Mutiny
- Three-Day Week
- Grunwick dispute
- Winter of Discontent
- UK miners' strike (1984–1985)
- Battle of Orgreave
- Wapping dispute
- Liverpool dockers' strike (1995–98)
- 2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute
- Gate Gourmet#Disputes and strike action.
- 2009 Lindsey Oil Refinery strikes
Rights
[edit]- 1994 Criminal Justice Bill protests
- Fathers 4 Justice
- Gay Liberation Front
- OutRage!
- Feminist history in the United Kingdom
- 1990 Strangeways Prison riot
- Gurkha Justice Campaign
- 2010 UK student protests
- George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom
- COVID-19 anti-lockdown protests in the United Kingdom
- "Kill the Bill"
Race and immigration
[edit]- Battle of Cable Street
- Bristol Bus Boycott, 1963
- Battle of Lewisham
- Anti-Nazi League
- Rock Against Racism
- Unite Against Fascism
- Anti-Fascist Action
- Blair Peach
- Kevin Gately
- George Floyd protests in the United Kingdom
Taxation
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/No_to_the_Poll_Tax_grafitti.jpg/150px-No_to_the_Poll_Tax_grafitti.jpg)
Environment
[edit]- Campaign against Climate Change
- Road protest in the United Kingdom
- List of road protests in the UK and Ireland
- Twyford Down
- Newbury bypass
- Camp for Climate Action
- Reclaim The Streets
- Swampy
- Plane Stupid
- Stop Esso campaign
- Frack Off
- Extinction Rebellion
- Insulate Britain
- Just Stop Oil
- Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate
- Extinction Rebellion Youth
Animal rights
[edit]- Hunt sabotage
- Countryside Alliance's Liberty & Livelihood March in September 2002, with 400,000 marchers.
- 2004 invasion of Parliament by pro-hunting protesters
- Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty
- Pro-Test
War
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ad/Big_ben_protesters.jpg/125px-Big_ben_protesters.jpg)
- Anti-Vietnam War Grosvenor Square riot
- Protests of 1968
- Conscientious objectors
- Stop the War Coalition
- Brian Haw
- Protest against the Iraq War in London, 15 February 2003
- Protests against the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
Nuclear
[edit]- Committee of 100 (United Kingdom)
- Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament
- Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp
- Faslane Peace Camp
Religion
[edit]- Islamist demonstration outside Danish Embassy in London in 2006
- Jenny Geddes
- Prayer Book Rebellion
- Pilgrimage of Grace
- Protests against Jerry Springer: The Opera
- The Satanic Verses controversy
Art and culture
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Stuckists_Death_of_Conceptual_Art_demo.jpg/150px-Stuckists_Death_of_Conceptual_Art_demo.jpg)
Foreign policy
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Pro-Tibet_protesters_at_Olympic_torch_relay_in_London_2008.jpg/150px-Pro-Tibet_protesters_at_Olympic_torch_relay_in_London_2008.jpg)
- Israel lobby in the United Kingdom
- 2009 Tamil diaspora protests
- 2008 Olympic torch relay protests
- 2008 Pro-Tibetan protests
- 2008-2009 Gaza War protests
- Global Day of Action for Burma
- 2023 Gaza War protests
Anti-capitalist/anti-globalisation
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/be/G20_anarchists.jpg/150px-G20_anarchists.jpg)
- 2009 G-20 London summit protests
- Carnival Against Capitalism
- 2005 G8 protests in Gleneagles
- Stop the City
- May Day protests since 2000
- Occupy movement in the United Kingdom
Troubles in Northern Ireland
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/af/Free_Derry_Bloody_Sunday_memorial_march.jpg/150px-Free_Derry_Bloody_Sunday_memorial_march.jpg)
- Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association
- 1969 Northern Ireland Riots
- Battle of the Bogside
- Parades in Northern Ireland
- Drumcree conflict
- Bloody Sunday
- Blanket protest
- Dirty protest
- 1981 Irish hunger strike
- Ulster Says No
Other
[edit]- Bedroom Tax protests (2013-?)
- Red Clydeside
- Luddites
- Swing Riots
- Radical War
- Tolpuddle Martyrs
- Temperance movement
- Skeleton Army
- "Put It To The People" anti-Brexit march (2019)
See also
[edit]- Civil liberties in the United Kingdom
- History of radicalism in the United Kingdom
- Lobbying in the United Kingdom
- Category:Political advocacy groups in the United Kingdom
- Speakers' Corner
- Category:Riots and civil disorder in the United Kingdom
- Renouncing a British honour
- Student activism in the UK
- Category:Rebellions in the United Kingdom and Ireland
- Category:British activists
References
[edit]- ^ "Methodology used and current estimates for marches", What Do They Know. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ "UK's 'biggest peace rally'". The Guardian. 2003-02-15. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "'Million' march against Iraq war". 2003-02-16. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Anti-war rally makes its mark". 2003-02-19. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ "'1 million' Put It To The People protesters stage historic rally for a second referendum". The Independent. 2019-03-23. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "We counted the people on the Brexit march so you don't have to". Wired UK. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "There almost certainly weren't a million people on the People's Vote march". Full Fact. 2019-03-25. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ "March organisers hail 'one of the greatest protest marches in British history'". The Guardian. 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "No evidence that People's Vote march had over two million people". Full Fact. 2019-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-28. The article cites estimates calculated using two metholodogies by researchers at Manchester Metropolitan University. It also mentions a hypothetical figure of 400,000 arrived at by assuming the assembly area and the march route were both full at the same time, when in reality the assembly area was "fairly empty" during the march.
- ^ a b Holden, Michael. "London police arrest dozens as pro-Palestinian rally draws counter-protests". Reuters. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
- ^ Toby Helm, Michael Savage and Eleni Courea, "Almost 700,000 march to demand ‘people’s vote’ on Brexit deal", The Guardian, 20 October 2018. Retrieved 11 November 2023. The organisers initially estimated 570,000 then revised up to 670,000. When media outlets started rounding to 700,000, the organisers adopted this "new" estimate as their own.
- ^ "Did 670,000 march for a People's Vote on Brexit?". Full Fact. 2018-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "A peaceful protest. The inevitable aftermath". The Independent. 2011-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Anti-cuts march: Tens of thousands at London protest". BBC News. 2011-03-26. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Thank you London! Half a million people on the streets today for Palestine demanding a #CeaseFireNOW 🇵🇸". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Hundreds of thousands rally across cities to support Palestinians". Reuters. 2023-10-28. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ^ "Today over half a million took to the streets of London to stand with Palestine and demand a full #CeasefireNOW 🇵🇸". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2024-01-13.
- ^ a b "Thousands at anti-war rallies". 2003-03-23. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ a b "400,000 bring rural protest to London". The Guardian. 2002-09-23. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "400,000 marched for peace". 2023-10-19. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "1983: CND march attracts biggest ever crowd". 1983-10-22. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ a b "Protesters stage anti-war rally". 2002-09-28. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "CNN.com - London and Rome host anti-war rallies - Sep. 28, 2002". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ "PSC Chair Louise Regan addressing the crowd of 400k ✊🇵🇸". X (formerly Twitter). 2024-03-11.
- ^ "Charlotte Church and Jeremy Corbyn join tens of thousands at pro-Palestine march". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-03-11.
- ^ "300,000 people are marching for Palestine in London today 🇵🇸 🇵🇸". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "About 100,000 turn out in London for pro-Palestine rally". The Guardian. 2023-10-21. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "The march is still going! At least 300,000 are on the streets of London calling for a permanent #CeasefireNOW now and an end to the seige of Gaza. 🇵🇸". X (formerly Twitter). 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
- ^ "Tens of thousands join pro-Palestinian march in central London". Reuters. 2023-11-25. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ^ a b "Twelve people arrested at pro-Palestine demonstration in London". Sky News. Retrieved 2024-02-18.
- ^ "1981: CND rally attracts thousands". 1981-10-24. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ a b c "Thousands flock to poverty march". 2005-07-02. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Donald Trump visit: London protesters stage 'one of UK's biggest rallies in years'". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "CAIN: Events: Anglo-Irish Agreement: The Task Force Report: An End to Drift, 16 June 1987". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "CAIN: Events: Anglo-Irish Agreement - Chronology of events". cain.ulster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ a b "2003: High security as Bush visits UK". 2003-11-18. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ ""It's time to unlock the process to peace,"@jeremycorbyn addressing the 200 thousand in Whitehall. #CeasefireNow". X (formerly Twitter). 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ "Thousands join pro-Palestine marches in London and Edinburgh". The Guardian. 2024-02-03. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ "Four arrested as 200,000 attend pro-Palestine march in London". The Guardian. 2024-03-31.
- ^ "The National Archives - Revolt: The story of England's first protest | The National Archives". Archives Media Player. 2020-01-15. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "TUC | History Online". unionhistory.info. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ "Image of The Meeting of the Unions on Newhall Hill, Birmingham, 16th by Haydon, Benjamin Robert (1786-1846)". www.bridgemanimages.com. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ "Thousands gather in London for Palestine solidarity march". The Guardian. 2021-05-22. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Don't underestimate how many of us want to see a free Palestine in our lifetime. 150,000 in London and counting ✊ 🇵🇸". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Over 150,000 people confirmed to be on the march for Ukraine". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "The Guardian 05 Oct 1936, page 11". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Daily Chronicle, cited in a TUC Book on Cable Street" (PDF). p. 11-12. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Over 100,000 demonstrate in London against Sri Lankan war". World Socialist Web Site. 2009-02-02. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "TamilNet". tamilnet.com. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Thousands march against antisemitism in London". BBC News. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ^ "March against antisemitism draws 50,000 in London". Reuters. 2023-11-26. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
- ^ "Today over 100,000 took to the streets of London for Palestine. 🇵🇸 We won't stop marching until there's a ceasefire and justice for the Palestinians". X (formerly Twitter). 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ "Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters march through London in support of Gaza ceasefire". Sky News. 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Vietnam Demonstrations (1968), retrieved 2023-11-02
- ^ "Anti Vietnam War – story". Special Branch Files Project. 2015-11-12. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ "1968: Anti-Vietnam demo turns violent". 1968-03-17. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ a b "100,000 demonstrate in London to demand end to war in Afghanistan". World Socialist Web Site. 2001-11-20. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "Tens of thousands march to demand climate action on biggest day of protests at climate summit". Sky News. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ Taylor, Matthew; Watts, Jonathan (20 September 2019). "'Enough is enough': biggest-ever climate protest sweeps the UK". The Guardian. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ O'Carroll, Lisa; Gayle, Damien (2018-06-23). "Anti-Brexit protest: estimated 100,000 march two years after vote". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ a b "Thousands join anti-war protest". 2006-03-18. Retrieved 2024-01-15.
- ^ a b "Organisers hail anti-war protest". 2003-02-15. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "15 February 2003: the world against the war". Socialist Worker. 2013-02-12. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "While Thousands March, President Trump Dismisses London Protests as 'Fake News'". Time. 2019-06-04. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ "The Peterloo massacre: what was it and what did it mean?". The Guardian. 2019-08-16. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ "Violence at Tory HQ overshadows student fees protest". BBC News. 2010-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ a b "UK protesters call for Gaza peace". 2009-01-10. Retrieved 2024-02-20.
- ^ a b "G20 protest: Thousands march for 'jobs, justice and climate'". The Guardian. 2009-03-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
- ^ a b "Greta Thunberg in Bristol: thousands turn out for climate strike". The Guardian. 2020-02-28. Retrieved 2023-10-28.
Further reading
[edit]- McKay, George (1998). DiY culture: party & protest in Nineties Britain. Verso. p. 310. ISBN 1-85984-260-7.
- Randall, Adrian; Andrew Charlesworth (1996). Markets, market culture and popular protest in eighteenth-century Britain and Ireland. Liverpool University Press. p. 199. ISBN 0-85323-700-X.
External links
[edit]- "Your Right To Peaceful Protest". Your Rights: The Liberty Guide to Human Rights. Liberty. Archived from the original on 2009-07-04. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- "Adapting to protest". Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- "Policing and Protest". Joint Committee on Human Rights. United Kingdom Parliament. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- "Right to protest". Directgov. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- "Free speech & Protest". Liberty. Archived from the original on 2006-09-29. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
- Scottish Parliament e-petitions Archived 2009-06-30 at the Wayback Machine