Sitting down for peace, London: September 1961

The British philosopher Bertrand Russell, a founding member of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), sits down with thousands of supporters for peace. He is later jailed for inciting a breach of the peace.

CND, founded in 1958, stages regular marches and rallies calling for bans on nuclear weapons and disarmament. Prominent members include Bertrand Russell, novelist J B Priestley, actress Vanessa Redgrave, politician Michael Foot, journalist James Cameron, playwright John Osborne and jazz singer George Melly. In September 1961, thousands of protesters rally in Trafalgar Square and 'sit down' for peace. In violent clashes, police arrest 850.

ITN: news footage with natural sound recorded at the time.

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