We first fought...in the name of religion, then Communism, and now in the name of drugs and terrorism. Our excuses for global domination always change.
Serj Tankian

CND stall in NorwichStalls

Running a stall is one of the basic campaigning activities. You can get material for your stall from CND but you can also make your own leaflets, placards and banners.

Basic Tips

  • Have one main message that you want to get across. It is sometimes tempting to try to do a little bit of everything but a single message is better than many.
  • Local issues: try to make a link with a local issue - for example the money spent on Trident compared with the money not spent on a local hospital etc.
  • Location: if the stall is on private property then you will probably be moved. It is sometime surprising what now is private property - for example the area outside the Forum Library in Norwich is privately owned. Your stall must not excessively block a highway (see Legal Issues)
  • Colourful banners, placards etc will make your stall look more inviting and will help get your message out.
  • Petitions etc are not only useful in their own right but also give you the change to talk to people.
  • Stickers, badges and other merchandise can be popular particularly with younger people.

Ian Gibson MP at the stallLeaflets

As well as sitting behind the stall it is also useful to have people leafletting/collecting petitions in front of it. CND has a variety of leaflets but you can also produce your own. Click here to download a template for a double sided A5 leaflet - print out on A4 then photocopy double sided and cut in half.

Legal Issues

There is not need to get permission for a stall if it is only public land and its main purpose is campaigning/protest since you have the right of freedom of expression/protest under the human rights act.

If your stall is unduely obstructing a public highway (path, road etc) then it is a criminal offence. However, in these situations you will always be asked to move your stall before any further action is taken since the obstruction has to be shown to be intentional.

Sometime the police will use this unfairly so you can argue with them and ask them where you can have your stall. If you have any problems then please let us know.