alternatehistory.com

October 29, 1966

Anti-nuclear protests held across North America

Nowadays, it’s not unusual to see people in the streets holding signs and shouting slogans. But instead of the usual suspects of longhairs and black power activists, concerned housewives and senior citizens are on the march. From coast to coast, people have taken to the streets to protest the construction of atomic power plants. Opposition to atomic power has amplified after the meltdown of the Fermi plant near Detroit, Michigan a few weeks ago.

Most of the protests have occurred near plants that are under construction. Currently, there is at least one unit under construction at eight plants across the U.S. and three plants in Canada. [1] The status of these plants is now in limbo as opposition to these plants has grown. Local activism has had success in preventing the construction of an atomic power plant. In 1964, the AEC cancelled a power plant in Bodega Bay, CA, in part because of local opposition. [2]

So far, most of these protests have been civil and peaceful, and sometimes colorful. In one protest, a parade of ducks was led down the street by a group of housewives. They paraded the ducks on leashes, while holding signs saying “Down with atomic quackery” and “A.E.C. is ducking the issue” [3].