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Peace Sign Flag

Steve Kramer, 1996-MAY-28

Description of the flag
Symbolism of the flag
Use of the flag

Description of the flag

The actual colors and sizes seem to vary. I've seen white on black (pictured) most often; others are white on blue, green on white, and pink on black. The most common proportions are 3:5.

Steve Kramer, 1996-MAY-28

Symbolism of the flag

The symbol consists of the semaphore letters "N" and "D" (for "nuclear disarmament") inside a circle. The original colors were, as shown in the image above, white on black. According to The CND Story by John Minnion and Philip Bolsover (1983), Holtom and other CND artists pointed out other symbolism in the flag as well: the semaphores together, without the circle, look like a stick figure with its arms outstretched -- "the gesture of a human being in despair"; the circle represents the womb or unborn generations, as well as the world; and the color black represents eternity.

Bruce Tindall, 1996-MAY-28

Another, presumably 'unofficial', explanation is that it is the cross of christ with the arms drooping in despair. The symbol is also, in fact, the Death Rune of the Futhark runic alphabet. Whether this is an intentional similarity or not, CND supporters, particularly 'Christian' ones, used to get very uppity when this was pointed out!

Stuart A. Notholt, 1996-MAY-30

Use of the flag

The "peace sign" was originally the symbol of the (U.K.) Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). It was designed by Gerald Holtom in 1958. The frequently-repeated but mistaken belief that it was designed by Bertrand Russell probably stems from the fact that Russell was the president of the CND at the time.

The first public use of the symbol was on flags and placards during the 1958 Aldermaston march (in England). It was described in Manchester Guardian articles covering the march.

Bruce Tindall, 1996-MAY-28

This is the standard that was carried throughout the '60's and beyond in the United States and elsewhere.

Steve Kramer, 1996-MAY-28