Resist Armed Forces Day

On Saturday 29 June, the UK's ministers, generals, admirals and arms dealers will again whip up support for war and militarism with their annual Armed Forces Day celebrations.

Armed Forces Day promotes uncritical praise of the military and tries to sweep difficult questions under the carpet. It presents children with an image of war and weapons as glamorous and exciting, and glosses over the vicious realities of war. Military parades and "fun days" are held in towns and cities around the UK, with primary school-aged children invited to handle real weapons as if they were toys. Thankfully, there are many people prepared to speak out against this! 

To end wars - and to prevent future wars - we need to resist the militaristic ideas and structures that uphold and justify them. 

You can find out more about Armed Forces Day with our briefing What’s Wrong With Armed Forces Day?

There are many ways to resist Armed Forces Day. If you want to get involved, please get in touch on 020 7424 9444 or at mail@ppu.org.uk as we would love to assist.

Here are 3 ways you can get involved: 

1 Take action in your community

There are events taking place across the country to celebrate Armed Forces Day, ranging from military marches to so-called “family fun days”. In recent years, Armed Forces Day events have seen children as young as 6 or 7 invited to handle real weapons.

If you find there’s an event near you, we encourage you to take the opportunity to speak out against it and call for the community to celebrate better values instead!

We can provide you with postcards to hand out declaring that “War Is Not Family Entertainment”, and flyers highlighting the abusive nature of the armed forces. We’re also happy to give you advice and encouragement and to put you in touch with others. 

If you are a parent, school student or teacher, please let us know if your school is celebrating Armed Forces Day. We can provide you with alternative materials for school or help you raise your concerns with the headteacher.

If there is no event in your area, there are – sadly – likely to be other manifestations of militarism not too far away.

You can also write to your local paper, call a radio phone-in or ask your local council how much they are spending on Armed Forces Day and why they are funding celebrations of militarism. You can urge them to host a Peace Day, Community Day or Public Service Day instead, and to hold military leaders to account. You might find it helpful to consult our briefing What's Wrong With Armed Forces Day? Please let us know if you receive any response.

Protests against Armed Forces Day are planned around the country. If you plan to take action locally, please tell us about it! Please also get in touch if you want more details on a protest or vigil that's already been planned. 

2 Connect with other activists

Activism against Armed Forces Day, like all aspects of militarism, is stronger when we come together. As well as sharing your thoughts with friends, family and colleagues, the PPU would be glad to help connect you with other activists.

Get in touch if you'd like to get involved in actions in your local area or to organise something yourself, or if you'd be willing to travel to other areas (if there are no Armed Forces Day events planned near you, for example).

3 Take action online

Miltarists will be taking to social media to push their message on Armed Forces Day - but we'll be there too! Many people will also use social media to challenge militarism on 29 June. You can use hashtags such as #EverydayMilitarism to highlight what is going on, as well as #ArmedForcesDay so that your posts are seen by more people.

Of course, you can also post about the issue on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter in the run-up to the day. You could tweet your local council to ask if they’re hosting Armed Forces Day events, how they’re funding them and whether the forces will be allowed to invite children to handle weapons.

The PPU will be posting on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter in the run up to Armed Forces Day. Keep in the loop about developments and make sure to like and repost our posts to your networks. Other groups worth following include Forces Watch and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT). 

Please post polite but firm messages challenging what people are being told on Armed Forces Day. You might want to focus on the fact that children are presented with glamorised images of war, and that there is no age limit for children being invited to handle real weapons (except in Leicester, where a successful local campaign means that the military cannot invite anyone under 16 to handle weapons). You might also highlight the realities of war and armed forces, and the shocking levels of abuse within the armed forces.

Get in touch! 

Please contact us on 020 7424 9444 or at mail@ppu.org.uk if:

  • You are planning an event to challenge militarism and Armed Forces Day: we can put the details on our website. 

  • You would like postcards and flyers to hand out at protests.

  • You would like advice about organising a protest, vigil or other event, or in contacting your local media.

  • You are interested in protesting at the Armed Forces Day National Event in Scarborough or at one of the other local protests.

  • You have heard about Armed Forces Day events in your area, or at a school, university or workplace, and you want us to be aware of them.