Vintage Political Protests & Activists Photo Gallery

The power of protest is a timeless expression of objection, disapproval and dissent. SuperStock's Vintage Political Protests & Activists Photo Gallery captures the spirit of these historic moments in time. Our collection of images showcases the passion and commitment of those who have taken a stand against injustice and inequali...Read more

Black-Garbed Woman in Cairo's Anti-British Demonstration:Egyptian women in their traditional black dress, led the parade of women and girls through the Streets of Cairo during the great Anti-British demonstration in which, it is said, about a million Egyptians participated. The business life of this City was brought to a standstill by the demonstration. November 15, 1951.

Their Mite For Mexico -- Two Indian women of Mexico, one Barefoot, bring their gifts-chickens-to donate to their country to help pay off the Government debt contracted with the expropriation of the $400,000,000 foreign-owned oil industry of Mexico. These were among thousands Mexican women in a donation parade at Mexico city. The sign reads: "Live to be free, or die to cease being slaves", and is signed--"We the women". April 14, 1938. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Scuffle: Police scuffle with pickets before offices of the American Marsh Pump Co., here yesterday. Pickets had set up a blockade to prevent office workers form entering the strikebound plant. July 23, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Non-Strikers Crash Picket Line -- This brief flurry of action broke out at Columbia Studio today as several non-strikers attempted to crash the massed picket line posted by the striking Conference of studio unions. Police began arresting the pickets shortly afterwards. November 15, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Marchers Leave For Home - Clyde Side marchers before leaving St. Pancras station for Claggow this morning. November 05, 1932. (Photo by London News Agency Photos Ltd.).

Housewives Association - Organisation. November 07, 1946.

Movie Striker Protests Against Arrest -- A striker tells police what he thinks of being arrested at RKO studio today after he and other pickets refused to heed a court injunction. Limiting the number of pickets at move studio entrances. In background are workers waiting for police to Disband the picket line before entering the lot. October 24, 1945. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Portuguese Demonstrate for Goa -- Demonstrators in Oporto, Portugal, March to the city's statue of Henry the navigator August 14, the nigh before the scheduled March on Portugese Goa by "Liberators" from India. In Portugese Churches, prayers were offered "that Goa may be safeguarded for western civilization and the Western Faith". August 19, 1954. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Postal Strike in Bombay -- Postal employees on strike, kept in line and shepherded by policemen, who are seen carrying umbrellas, marching through a street in Bombay with placards proclaiming their demands, on July 15.Three hundred strikes arising out of industrial disputes have taken place in Bombay this year. Ten strikes are at present in progress, including the stoppage of postal and telegraph workers, and two more are pending.The postal workers struck on July 11 seeking an increase in wages of about 20%, and the strike is still in progress. July 24, 1946. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

The Belfast Riots; Troops Called Out -- A police truck passing under the welcoming sign of the 12th July Orange Day arch in Belfast today, July 14.Troops were called out in Belfast last night, July 13, when rioting between Unionists and Nationalists, which began on Friday, flared up again. Today, July 14, the city was still patrolled by a thousand soldiers and policemen, and armoured cars, and every precaution is being made, for two people were killed and 60 injured in the previous night's riots. July 14, 1935. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Housewives Association - Organisation. November 07, 1946.

Ford Employees Take Strike Vote : Employees of the Ford Motor Co. Here, shown depositing ballots today, the last of the strike votes in the automobile industry's big three over a 30 per cent wage rate increase demand. Voters are members of the United Auto Workers Union (CIO). November 7, 1945. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

"Selling Himself" -- Mr. Arthur Clements 38 of Finsbury Park, North London, is an expert salesman, with one of the chief qualifications that such a job demands, the ability to "sell himself"..... In fact, when Britain's boosted expert trade did him out of his pre-war door-to-door sales, that's just what he did! Here he is selling himself" near London's West End. He had crept out with his home-made board, (adapted from a wooden blackout frame), while his wife was out shopping. August 2, 1946. (Photo by Mirror Features).

Catholics Protest Against Cardinal's Arrest - Pamphlets being distributed among the crows outside who were unable to secure admission to the rally this evening. British Roman Catholics from all parts of the country flocked to the Albert Hall, London, this evening (Mon) for a mass rally held in protest against the arrest of Cardinal Mindazenty, Primate of Hungary, who is accused of treason, espionage and black market currency dealings. The Cardinal made a last appeal before the Budapest People's Court, where he is on trail, on Saturday, and the verdict is to be announced to-morrow (Tues). February 7, 1949. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Picket for lower meat prices. Housewives and children are shown (above) picketing a chain store here today in an attempt to reduce week-end meat purchases in a protest against higher prices. July 19, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Deputies Drive Back Film Demonstrators -- Deputy sheriffs and police officers Drive Back paraders who demonstrated at Metro Goldwyn-Mayer studio today and engaged the officers in a battle which resulted in a dozen arrests and injuries to a number of participants on both sides. December 1, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Police Remove Pickets From Truck Driveway -- Police officers pull two pickets from the path of trucks here today after the men had thrown themselves to the ground in an attempt to block trucks from delivering merchandise to the Sears Roebuck store where CIO warehousemen are on strike. The trucks were driven by AFL drivers. October 13, 1947. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Unemployed & Unemployment - London. February 11, 1939. (Photo by Keystone Press Agency Ltd.).

Willi Hoss, left, a member of West Germany's Greens Party and one of their represents at the Bundestag, raises his first in solidarity with striking workers outside Mercedes Benz' plant in East London, South Africa Thursday Hoss is visiting the workers who were dismissed yesterday after a five-week strike. September 10, 1945. (Photo by AP Laserphoto)

Egyptian Suffragettes:The procession En Route from the University to the parliament building. Banner at front reads "women's groups demand political rights for women."Police closed the doors of parliament building, Cairo, Feb. 19, when an estimated 500 women demonstrators attempted to enter the building to claim political rights after a meeting of the Egyptian feminist party at the Ewart Memorial Hall of the American University. March 7, 1951. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Voters Protest in Cape Town.Photo Shows: The huge procession marching through the streets of Cape Town. there were no disturbances.Crowds estimated at 10,000 held a protest march and demonstration in the largest demonstration of people ever held in cape town, S.Africa.The demonstration marked a great protest against the representations of the Non- Europeans Bill, introduced into the house of Assembly by Dr. Malan's Government, and which the people consider will disenfranchise them. March 13, 1951. (Photo by Sports And General Press Agency Ltd).

'Save Opa' Rally On Monument Grounds -- Banners and placards are displayed at "Save Opa" rally on Washington monument grounds today where a crowd heard plea for buyers' strike if OPA's Major controls are abolished and prices increased. June 24, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Unemployed Men Lie Down In Oxford Street -- The unemployed men lying in the road at the corner of Oxford Street and Berwick Street. Members of the Unemployed Workers Movement staged another demonstration today when they laid down in the road at the corner of Oxford Street and Berwick Street, holding up the traffic until the police dispersed them. January 17, 1939. (Photo by Keystone).

Misc. April 01, 1954. (Photo by Look Magazine).

Serious Rioting in Belfast -- The scene of devastation in Little York Street, Belfast, following the rioting. Men of the Fighting Patrol of the Boarder Regiment are seen patrolling the street.Serious rioting broke out in the York Street Area of Belfast on Saturday, when a detachment of Orangemen, who were returning from Belfast's great "Twelfth of July" (Battle of the Boyne) demonstration, were fired on. Two persons were killed and many others wounded. July 16, 1935. (Photo by Topical Press).

Crowd Lines Walk at Employment Office -- A block long line formed in front of the U.S. employment office here today waiting for interviews. Strikes and plant closing have made more than 80,000 persons idle in the Detroit industrial area. September 17, 1945. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

The Belfast Riots -- A baton charge at Templemore Avenue, Newtownards Road East, Belfast. It will be seen that peaceful citizens were passed by the police in pursuit of the disturbers.Two people were killed and many injured during the riots. The cause of the outbreak was owing to the police enforcing a ban on a procession of relief-work strikers who intended to carry out a mass demonstration of 80,000 to march to the Belfast workhouse. November 21, 1932. (Photo by Central News).

Housewives Ignor Steel - Protest About Meat - Steel and a motion of censure were before the House of Commons, but these Teddington (Middlesex) housewives travelled down by motor-coach to present petitions against 'The meat position'. Decorating their coach were a dummy representing the plump pre-war housewife and a skull with the post-war meat ration (what the housewives forget - the home was due to debate Meat to-marrow). Britain: "In no country do dissenting voices find a platform so easily." Above, protesting housewives. February 7, 1951. (Photo by Reuterphoto).

Crowd Runs As Tear Gas Let Loose -- A crowd of strikers and spectators breaksup as a tear gas bomb is let loose by police at the Standard Oil Co. refinery here today. AFL maintenance workers went through a picket line of C10 refinery workers setting off a two-hour fight between strikers and police. September 14, 1948. (Photo by AP Wirephoto)

Unemployed Men Lie Down in Oxford Street -- The unemployed men lying in the road at the corner of Oxford Street and Berwick Street.Members of the Unemployed Workers Movement staged another demonstration today when they laid down in the road at the corner of Oxford Street and Berwick Street, Holding up the traffic until the police dispersed them. January 17, 1939. (Photo by Keystone Press Agency Ltd.).

Picket Union Office -- Three-year-old Karen Geuther parades with her daddy, Jim Geuther, reservations clerk, in front of the Airline Pilots Association Union headquarters in protest against the strike of pilots, which has put Karen's dad on the temporarily unemployed list, when the white collar workers were furloughed without pay. Unemployment is totally unacceptable to a Christian conscience. Any Government which accepts or deliberately creates a pool of unemployment is unfit to govern. To load on to a section of the people, and those least able to bear it, the price of inflation, is immoral and unjust. October 25, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Picket Line Action -- Several men on a picket line at the General Electric plant here try to stop a mounted policeman with an American flag in a demonstration today. The police were called out by Sheriff William J. Morrow to enforce a court injunction limiting picketing at the plant. February 27, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

British Unemployed Demand The Return Of Their "Coffin" - The deputation from the unemployed workers movement, leaving Scotland yard, London, this afternoon Feb. 3, after they had been refused permission to see Sir Philip game, the commissioner of police.A Deputation from the unemployed workers movement, today Feb.3, visited the home office to ask for the return of their "coffin" taken from them by the police after their demonstration outside the house of commons last Tuesday on the occasion of the reassembly of parliament. The deputation was refused permission to see the commissioner of police, Sir Philip Game, and following that they went to the home office in an attempt to get an interview with Sir Samuel Hoare, the home secretary. Extra police were sent to guard downing-street. October 04, 1939. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Picket - Police Flag Scuffle -- Mounted police and pickets wrestling for flag in front of Philadelphia's General Electric Co. plant today. A melee broke out as police on horseback charged massed pickets in an effort to enforce a court injunction limiting picket demonstrations in front of the plant. Six men were arrested and one injured in the picket line scuffle. February 27, 1946. (Photo by AP Wirephoto)

The General Strikes -- The crowd running as a police car arrives. Police are seen with drawn batons. A snap in New Kent Road on Thursday night.January 26, 1936. (Photo by London News And Agency Photos Ltd.).

A protest meeting against the recent rise in the price of meat was dispersed by police yesterday at Newtown.They, the Newtown housewives sought signatures for a petition to send to the Prime Minister Mr. Chiefley. November 07, 1946.

Dockers Trail At The Old Bailey -- Mounted and foot police clearing demonstrators during the disturbances, outside the court.Disturbances Outside Court. Disturbances took place outside the Old Bailey in London, during the closing stages of the trial of the seven clock-workers accused of illegal conspiracy to incitement men to take part in illegal strikes. April 17, 1951. (Photo by Sport & General Press Agency, Limited).

Peoples Protest in Cape Town.Photo Shows : A section of the crowd with their banners during the demonstrations in Cape Town.A big demonstration of people was held in Cape Town under the auspices of the African National Congress, the Franchise Action Council and the Cape Indian Assembly.The Demonstration was in Protest against the new measures of the Malan Government and the Apartheid laws in general. February 24, 1953. (Photo by Sports And General Press Agency Ltd)

Head of Ironworkers March through at to chamber of manufactures. December 16, 1946.

Police Hold Back Crowd -- An unidentified man (center) gets rough handling from police officers during a demonstration of striking telephone workers and sympathizers today. Several persons were arrested, police said, for "refusing to move on"! April 25, 1947. (Photo by AP Wirephoto).

Serious Rioting in Belfast -- Royal Ulster Constabulary arriving at the scene of the rioting in Belfast in armoured cars. The wire netting over the cars as a further protection.Serious rioting broke out in the York Street Area of Belfast on Saturday, when a detachment of Orangemen who were returning from Belfast's great "Twelfth of July" (Battle of the Boyne) demonstration, were fired on. Two persons were killed and many others wounded. July 16, 1935. (Photo by Topical Press).

Cairo Rioters on Trial:The accused in a grilled dock during the trial. The tribunal building, near Cairo's famous citadel, was heavily guarded by police.Twenty men appeared before a military court in Cairo, March 12, in the first of a series of trials against more than 120 people accused of taking part in the January 26 Cairo riots and firemaking.The trials are to continue for several days.Six out of the 20 were tried March 12 for burning, looting and destroying the plaza cinema in Cairo's Shubra district. April 1, 1952. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

London Dock Strike -- A show of Union cards at the dockers' mass meeting in Victoria Park, Bothnal Green, London, yesterday, shows the almost unanimous vote to continue the strike. The men cheered when the chairman of their Lock-out Committee urged; "Let's take up this challenge and fight for right". There was only-one vote against the resolution of confidence in the strike leaders.July 12, 1949. (Photo by Daily Mirror).

Mass Picketing Connecticut Plant -- Connecticut state police stand by in the crowd before the main gate of the Pratt & Whitney Division, Niles Bement Pond company plant in West Hartford, May 14, as strikers are allowed a five minute mass picketing demonstration. May 14, 1946. (Photo by Associated Press Photo).

Suffragette arrested by police during a protest for women's suffrage (voting) circa 1910-12

Florence Jaffrey "Daisy" Harriman, President of Woman's National Wilson and Marshall Organization, attending Democratic Rally, Union Square, New York City, New York, USA, Bain News Service, August 20, 1912

Striking Garment Workers, Cloak Makers Union, Union Square, New York City, New York, USA, Bain News Service, 1916

Man protesting for John Kasper, an American far-right activist and Ku Klux Klan member who took a militant stand against racial integration during the civil rights movement, Washington, D.C., USA, Thomas J. O'Halloran, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection , October 1957

Gay Rights Demonstration during Democratic National Convention, New York City, New York, USA, Warren K. Leffler, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, July 11, 1976

Demonstration protesting anti-abortion candidate Ellen McCormack, Democratic National Convention, New York City, New York, USA, Warren K. Leffler, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, July 14, 1976

Silent Parade Protest against East St. Louis Riots, New York City, New York, USA, Underwood & Underwood, July 28, 1917

Crowd during protest against killing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Central Park, New York City, New York, USA, Bernard Gotfryd, April 5, 1968

Right to Life demonstration at the US Capitol, Washington, DC, 1/23/1978.

Young person holding a sign that has "Stop Abortion Now" written on it at a pro-life march, Washington, DC, 1/22/1990.

Staff and well-wishers gather in the offices of the Vietnam Moratorium Committee on the day of the nationwide antiwar demonstrations coordinated by the group, Washington, DC, 10/15/1969. (Photo by Warren K Leffler/US News & World Report Collection/GG Vintage Images/UIG)

Women march from Farragut Square to Lafayette Park carrying banners and signs during a demonstration in favor of equal rights for women, Washington, DC, 8/26/1970. (Photo by Warren K Leffler/US News & World Report Collection/GG Vintage Images/UIG)

Women outside the U.S. Capitol holding signs supporting the National Organization for Women's 'Rally for Women's Lives' and against sexual harassment, probably in reference to the accusations against Senator Bob Packwood Contributor Names Keating, Maureen, photographer Created / Published 1 April 1995

Rosa Parks speaks at a rally

Young hippie standing in front of a row of National Guard soldiers, across the street from the Hilton Hotel at Grant Park, during the Democratic National Convention, Chicago, IL, 08/29/1968. (Photo by Warren K Leffler)

American anti-war protestors

Police line shielding Vietnam war protesters

Protest against the war in Vietnam outside Capitol

Group of People standing in front of row of National Guard soldiers, across from Hilton Hotel at Grant Park during Democratic National Convention, Chicago, Illinois, USA, Warren K. Leffler, August 26, 1968

Protest against Iran

Man with Protest Sign outside Bowman Dairy, Chicago, Illinois, USA, John Vachon, U.S. Office of War Information/U.S. Farm Security Administration, July 1941

Police action in Poland during the martial law of 1981-1983.

Sstreet demonstration in Poland during the martial law of 1981-1983.

Police action in Poland during the martial law of 1981-1983.

Workers' protest action. In the foreground there is the improvised tomb of an unknown worker and a plaque with the inscription 'Long live the workers' solidarity PPS' ca. 1920-1939.

The demonstrators' sign says, 'Mr. President, let's have an old-fashioned Christmas,' and shows Santa Claus carrying a bag of gifts including, the Constitution, Free Assemblage, Free Speech, and Free Press.

Panamanian civilians carry a portrait of former President Omar Torrijos through the streets outside the gate of Fort Amador, headquarters of the US Southern Command.

Protesters with signs: 'Johnson unfair to labor,' 'Reinstate Donovan,' June 1934.

Crowd of Pedestrians on Downtown Street, Houston, Texas, USA, John Vachon, U.S. Office of War Information/U.S. Farm Security Administration, May 1943

Crowd of Pedestrians on Downtown Street, Houston, Texas, USA, John Vachon, U.S. Office of War Information/U.S. Farm Security Administration, May 1943

Crowd of Pedestrians on Downtown Street, Houston, Texas, USA, John Vachon, U.S. Office of War Information/U.S. Farm Security Administration, May 1943

Protesters ca. between 1909 and 1923.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests (also known as the People Power Uprising) were a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (today commonly known as Burma or Myanmar). Key events occurred on 8 August 1988, and therefore it is known as the 8888 Uprising.

There Is Some Local Opposition to Stripping the Land in Southeastern Ohio. Most People, However, Are Employed by the Coal Companies and Are Afraid Any Demands for Reform Will Cost Them Their Jobs. Off Route 800. 10/1973.

University of California, April 19, 1940 - An estimated million students in the United States participated in the 1940 annual April Peace Strike. At the University of California, students gathered to listen to speeches under signs that read, 'Let God Save the King.'

University of California, Berkeley, April 19, 1940 - About 10% of the student body gathered at the University of California to hear students and speakers sponsored by the 'Yanks Are Not Coming' committee.

US Marshals remove Vietnam War Protesters from the Pentagon during massive anti-war demonstration, 10/21/1967, Photo by US Army Signal Corps, GG Vintage Images

Crowd of people flashing Peace signs and holding candles, including African Americans, at a march at night to the White House, led by Coretta Scott King as part of the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam, Washington, DC, October 15, 1969. Photo by Warren K Leffler/US News and World Report Magazine Collection/GG Vintage Images)

Young man wearing helmet with peace sign, burns his draft card at an anti-draft demonstration at the Selective Service System headquarters, Washington, D.C, 3/19/1970. (Photo by Marion S. Trikosko/US News & World Report Magazine Collection/GG Vintage Images)

Vietnam War Protest at the United States Capitol, Washington, DC, 1967. GG Vintage Images

Photograph of African-American children and parents demonstrating at the Lincoln Memorial Youth March for Integrated Schools, Washington, DC, 10/25/1958. Photo by National Park Service/GG Vintage Images

Members of the Military Police keep back Vietnam War protesters during their sit-in at the Mall Entrance to the Pentagon. This was the first major protest against the war, Washington, DC, 10/21/1967. GG Vintage Images

Puerto Ricans demonstrate for civil rights at City Hall, New York, NY, 1967.

Anti-Equal Rights Amendment booth at the First National Women's Conference, Houston, TX, 11/1977.

Labor protesters with signs: 'Full Social and Economic Equality for Negros,' 'Unity of White-and-Negro Workers,' etc. circa 1930.

Protesting Congress' delay in considering the soldiers' cash bonus proposal, scores of Washington veterans paraded to the Capitol in a demonstration to seek immediate action circa 1931.

Man speaking at the woman suffrage march to the senate protest circa 1913.

The Second Indochina War, known in America as the Vietnam War, was a Cold War era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of South Vietnam, supported by the U.S. and other anti-communist nations. The U.S. government viewed involvement in the war as a way to prevent a communist takeover of South Vietnam and part of their wider strategy of containment. The North Vietnamese government viewed the war as a colonial war, fought initially against France, backed by the U.S., and later against South Vietnam, which it regarded as a U.S. puppet state. U.S. military advisors arrived beginning in 1950. U.S. involvement escalated in the early 1960s, with U.S. troop levels tripling in 1961 and tripling again in 1962. U.S. combat units were deployed beginning in 1965. Operations spanned

Whitney Young, Roy Wilkins, John Lewis, Martin Luther King, Jr., and other with Press after meeting with U.S. President John Kennedy after March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Washington, DC, USA, Warren K. Leffler, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, August 28, 1963

Crowd with Confederate Flags at University of Mississippi Football Game protesting James Meredith, first African-American Student to enroll at the school, Oxford, Mississippi, USA, Marion S. Trikosko, U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, September 29, 1962