Beyond the South End

The Peace Symbol

 

Did you know that the peace symbol so often viewed in the 60s was originally a symbol for nuclear disarmament?

In 1958, a British artist, Gerald Holtom created the symbol which consisted of a circle with three lines inside it, intending the design to be a symbol for the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC).

The lines within the circle are simplified Naval semaphore letters. The N for nuclear is formed by a Navy flagman holding a flag in each hand and then pointing them toward the ground at a 45 degree angle. The D for disarmament is made by holding one flag straight up and one straight down.

In Britain the symbol was the emblem for the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND), thus making it synonymous with nuclear disarmament. It migrated to the United States in the 60s and became a symbol for the peace movement. Today the symbol is recognized internationally and is still used by peace activists today.