Many Gaoled Or Fined For Anti-Bomb Protests

Press, Volume C, Issue 29623, 20 September 1961, Page 7

Many Gaoled Or Fined For Anti-Bomb Protests

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, September 18. More than 1000 men and women were gaoled or fined by 11 London Courts and in Scotland today in the wake of two week-end anti-nuclear sit-down protests. They included leading figures in British literary and stage life, as well as University lecturers, clergymen, doctors and journalists.

A 28-year-old American. David Price, was ordered to be gaoled for 28 days and recommended for deportation for his part in a London demonstration. Gaol terms for others ranged from a week to three months, while fines were from 5s to £2O.

The playwrights. John Osborne. Alan Sillitoe, and Shelagh Delaney, ano the actresses. Vanessa Redgrave and Patricia Burke, were among the demonstrators fined in London for obstructing the police. While the fines and sen-

tences were being imposed, Earl Russell told reporters that there would be more such protests in the future. The 89-yeer-old philosopher, president of the Committee of 100 which is organising the protests, has Just left prison after serving a seven-day sentence. Police arrested 1314 persons in the Trafalgar Square sit-down last night and London Courts dealt with the majority of them today.

In Dunoon, Scotland, a Court dealt with 230 persons arrested in an anti-nuclear

protest originally organised by the same committee at the Holy Loch, the anchorage for American Polariscarrying submarines Among those arrested at Trafalgar Square last night was Mr Fenner Brockway, a Labour member of Parliament.

Other public figures arrested around Trafalgar Square included Canon John Collins, precentor of St. Paul’s Cathedral and chairman of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. The Canon who does not share the views of the Committee of 100— stressed today that he had not joined the sit-down protest.

John Osborne, the 31-year-old author of “Look Back in Anger,” .was cheered by a crowd df 4 .100 when he left Court after being fined £l. AlSn Sillitoe, aged 33. who wrote last year’s success, “Saturday Night and Sunday Morning.” received a £2 fine. Vanessa Redgrave and Patricia Burke and Shelagh Delaney were fined £2 with £3 3s costs. At Dunoon. in Scot-

land, Miss Pat Arrowsmith, a 31-year-old member of the Committee of 100. was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment without the option of a fine.