CND protest, 1984

One of the CND protesters who marched through Coventry throwing the city centre into chaos. Seen here trying to keep dry and listen to one of the speakers at the War Memorial Park off Kenilworth following the march. 26th May 1984 Coventry was reduce to chaos as tens of thousands of marchers took part in a ban-the bomb rally. Anti-nuclear Protesters from all over the country arrived in the city on May 26th 1984 to take part in marches Massive disruption had been expected as many city streets were cut off and bus services thrown into chaos. Extra police were drafted to Coventry from other parts of the West Midlands to control the crowds. A massive police operation was launched masterminded from a city centre control room with 200 officers stationed along the routes of the marches. The campaigners marched from Edgwick Park, Gosford Green and Hearsall Common at noon - the routes forming the CND symbol. The processions converge at about 1pm on Coventry Cathedral, and then marched south to the War Memorial Park, Kenilworth for a rally. Speakers at the rally include Monsignor Bruce Kent, CND chairman Joan Ruddock, Professor E. P. Thompson, and Lynne Jones from the Greenham Common women's camp Police had been told to expect up to 50,000 demonstrators. But CND organisers thought the number were less than half than that because of the bad weather and the timing of the march two weeks before another rally in London. (Photo by Staff/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)