"Women seized and hauled off like sacks – a photographic history of British protests"

Duncan Campbell on the Significance of Protest

From the suffragettes in the early 1900s to Reclaim the Night in the 1970s; from the confrontation at Cable Street against fascists in 1936 to the marches against far-right groups in the 1970s; from the large-scale opposition to the Iraq war in London in 2003 to the widespread demonstrations in recent years against the conflict in Gaza, public demonstrations have long been a defining feature of British society.

Many protests go unnoticed, whether they involve picket lines during widespread strikes or smaller gatherings near government buildings. Yet, nearly all stem from a shared intent: drawing attention to what is seen as unfair. Some efforts—particularly those challenging discrimination based on race, gender, or sexuality—have succeeded, bringing lasting change over years or even decades. Others have had little impact. The way these movements are portrayed in the media has often shaped their success, with photographers like David Hoffman risking much to document them.

How demonstrations were, and still are, reported depends heavily on the political stance of the outlet. When David and I first worked together at *Time Out* in the late 1970s, it was known for its progressive stance—showcasing marches in a dedicated section and sending journalists to cover them. This approach continued with *City Limits* in the following decade. By the 2000s, however, details about protests shifted mostly to digital platforms. While the *Mirror* initially reported on the suffragettes, its founder, Alfred Harmsworth, soon grew tired of the coverage. “Disappointed to see suffragette images again,” he wrote to the paper's editor in 1912. “Thought this was over. Avoid further use unless absolutely necessary.”

Authorities have responded to demonstrations in vastly different ways. Protesters have been stopped, detained, injured, confined, and, increasingly, imprisoned. Some have faced even graver consequences: Kevin Gately, a 20-year-old student, lost his life during an anti-fascist rally in London in 1974, and Blair Peach’s death at a 1979 demonstration led to widespread outcry and further activism.

No matter how laws evolve or how governments and media react—whether to marches, strikes, sit-ins, or acts of civil disobedience—the tradition of protest, as vividly shown here, will endure.

Former CuriosityNews reporter Duncan Campbell passed away in May of this year.

‘As I took this photo, officers tried to seize my camera. That moment shaped the next forty years.’