The ripples from the nuclear freeze movement were first noticed in Western Europe in 1979. A few concerned citizens in Holland put pressure on the Dutch government to prohibit nuclear missiles on their land. Then support came from Norway and Denmark not even to entertain the idea of having nuclear missiles in their countries. In the spring of 1980 wavelets appeared as Britain was reawakened to the nuclear missile issue, and by autumn 80,000 demonstrators were drawn to Trafalgar Square.

The movement became known as END (European Nuclear Disarmament) and has grown into a wave with strong END committees in France, West Germany, Greece, Finland and Portugal, along with active supporting movements in most other European countries. END calls for a nuclear free zone, free of all nuclear weapons from Poland to Portugal. This wave reached into Eastern Europe with clandestine group discussions. By the end of 1981 the swell of support at nuclear freeze demonstrations in Western Europe totaled up like this:

● West Germany​—100,000 at Hamburg, June 1981.

● Sicily​—30,000 at Comiso, October 1981.

● France​—40,000 at Paris, October 1981.

● England​—175,000 at London, October 1981.

● Italy​—200,000 at Rome, October 1981.

● West Germany​—300,000 at Bonn, October 1981.

● Netherlands​—400,000 at Amsterdam, November 1981.

● Spain​—400,000 at Madrid, November 1981.

In the United States the seeds of the nuclear freeze proposal were planted in 1979 and emerged with citizen groups sensitizing Americans to the danger and horror of nuclear war by 1980. The support grew and radiated to other countries along with its demonstrations, such as:

● U.S.A.​—100,000 at 150 university campuses, November 1981.

● East Germany​—6,000 at Dresden, February 1982.

● Japan​—200,000 at three Tokyo rallies, May 1982.

● U.S.A.​—700,000 at New York City, June 1982.

On June 12, while the United Nations Second Special Session on Disarmament was in progress in New York, 700,000 nuclear freeze proponents paraded before UN headquarters, culminating a week of demonstrations. During that same week in Europe almost one million people demonstrated in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Berlin, Bonn, Copenhagen, Dublin, London, Madrid and Paris.

Who Backs It?

The nuclear freeze movement’s rapid growth and mobilization of supporters across a wide section of the globe mark the movement as unusual. But who are its supporters?

A broad range of citizens, not just the youth, has billowed up as the force behind the nuclear freeze movement. Supporters come from all walks of life: housewives, factory workers, lawyers, educators, business people, entertainers, medical professionals, clergymen, scientists and even military men of all rank.

The main backing for this diverse wave of humanity comes from three segments of society​—normally considered conservative, stable—​the scientific, the medical and especially the religious communities. U.S. News & World Report says: “The key force behind the American antiwar crusade consists of leaders of most of the nation’s churches.” The same is said about Europe.

The Eastern bloc of nations actively support the nuclear freeze movement not only in their own country but also in others. Such open participation is uncommon. Some of the European demonstrations were sponsored by communist groups, and one sponsor of the June 12, 1982, New York City rally was the Communist Party, U.S.A.

● Protestant Involvement:

The West German Protestant church group Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dienst für Frieden, AGDF (Action Group in the Service for Peace), was instrumental in organizing the 1981 Bonn, Germany, rally against nuclear weapons.​—The Christian Century.

The British Council of Churches has given unanimous approval to a motion supporting the World Disarmament Campaign since 1980.​—World Disarmament Campaign letter.

The national Council of Churches, American Baptist Churches, United Church of Christ and Reformed Church in America were supporters of the June 1982 nuclear freeze rally held in New York City.​—June 12 Rally Committee brochure.