A look at our collection reveals hundreds of photographs documenting protests, marches and other forms of activism across the decades.
On 15 February 2003, in one of the largest anti-war rallies in history, millions of people in approximately 800 cities around the world took part in protests against the impending invasion of Iraq.
These photographs of demonstrations and social and political activism from our collection have been selected to mark the 10 year anniversary of one of the biggest protests in history.
Most of these images are taken from the photographic archive of the Daily Herald newspaper, which comprises over 3 million photographs from 1911 to the mid-1960s, and offers a fascinating record of local, national and international events during this period.
Revolution in Petrograd, Russia, 1917. © Karl Bulla / Science Museum Group collection
Russian peasants demonstrate in Red Square, Moscow, 1917. Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Women’s section of hunger marchers en route to London, April 1930. Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Unemployed demonstration, Hyde Park, 27 September 1931. George Woodbine, Daily Herald Archive, Science Museum Group collection
Women demonstrating outside cinema on the The Sunday Entertainments Act, 28 November 1932. George Woodbine / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Anti-semitism protest, 26 March 1933. George Woodbine / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Crowds at Labour demonstrations, 17 June 1933. Edward George Malindine / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Communists in Swansea protest arrest of Pollitt and Mann, 1934. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Women hunger marchers, Euston Station, 1934. James Jarché / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Men standing on bollards to watch a demonstration, 4 March 1934. Edward George Malindine / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Police restrain crowds as Fascists demonstrate, Hyde Park, 9 September 1934 / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Anti-Nazi demonstrators gather in Hyde Park, 27 October 1935 / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Crowds at a meeting in Trafalgar Square, 15 August 1935. Harold Tomlin / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Anti-war demonstration, 3 May 1936. Harold Tomlin / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Texan cowboys demonstrate at a Democrat convention, 23 June 1936. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Women and children in rally to Trafalgar Square in support of Spain, 6 September 1936. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Girls dance after strike at East London rubber works, 8 September 1936. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Fascist demonstrator arrested in London’s East End, 4 October 1936. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Mounted policeman falls with horse during Fascist demonstration, 3 October 1937. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Fascist demonstration, 3 October 1937, George W. Roper. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Chinese woman holding banner, 17 October 1937. Harold Tomlin / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Residents demonstration, 28 July 1938. Edward George Malindine / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Rent strike demonstration in East End, 7 August 1938. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Muslims marching through London, 18 August 1938. Harold Tomlin / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Pensioners protest, 23 November 1938. George W. Roper / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Civil service demonstrators lie in road to protest their cause, 1939. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Man with ‘sweated labour’ placard at civil service demonstration, c. 1939. Science Museum Group collection
Mothers and children on a milk demonstration, 15 May 1939. George W. Roper / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Protest March, 25 May 1939. Harold Tomlin / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
General de Gaulle celebrates freedom for France, 28 August 1944. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Ramblers’ Association demonstration, 30 June 1946. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Jewish demonstration against government policy in Palestine, Trafalgar Square, 7 July 1946. Bishop Marshall / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Jewish demonstration against government policy in Palestine, 7 July 1946. Bishop Marshall / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Aircraft workers demonstrate their support for London squatters, 17 September 1946. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Housewives League demonstration at the House of Commons, 30 January 1951. G. Warner / Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
‘Pylons Before Poverty’ Call at Atom Station Inquiry, 13 February 1958. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Kenyan Asian demonstration in Whitehall, 25 February 1958. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection
Gypsy families stage a demonstration about schooling for their children, 1968. Daily Herald Archive / Science Museum Group collection