The National Library of Wales
I Was There!
Thu, 20 Mar 08 09:38:00
The National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth is trying to find out if you were there in one of the most important protests in modern Welsh history – the Trefechan Bridge protest of 1963 in Aberystwyth, the first protest conducted by a fledgling Welsh Language Society.
A large photograph, taken during the protest, can be seen at The National Library’s latest exhibition, Protest! The exhibition takes a look at the history of protesting in Wales from the Rebecca Riots in the 1840’s, to the Suffragettes during the early part of the 20th century and the language protests of the 1960’s. The Protest! exhibition opened in February 2008 and will be on display until February 2009.
The Library would like to find out who are the people in the photograph – the protesters and the local townspeople who happened to be present. Everyone. If you were there – what are your memories of the day? The National Library would like to hear from you.
The photograph was taken in February 1963 – during the bitter winter of that year. The Welsh language society was established in August 1962, in direct response to the famous radio speech by Saunders Lewis - Tynged yr Iaith ('Fate of the Language'). Broadcasted in February 1962, Lewis outlined the growing crisis facing the Welsh language and called on Welsh speakers to adopt "revolutionary means" to protect their language.
During the Trefechan protest, around 40 protestors and supporters sat in the road in the middle of the bridge to disrupt the flow of traffic in and out of Aberystwyth. Traffic was bought to a stand still for over half an hour, before the police were eventually called in to remove the protestors. The protester's intention was to be arrested by the police and then demand that their writ be in Welsh. As the writ would be in English only the protesters hoped this would bring attention to the lack of status for the Welsh langauge in Wales. The non-violent action was influenced by the civil rights movement in the USA and it was hoped the protest itself would also bring to the attention of the press and the public, the second class status of Welsh in Wales. This protest was the start of the Welsh Language Society’s policy of civil disobedience and non-violent direct action, which eventually led to the Welsh Language Act of 1967 and the establishment of S4C in 1982.
If you were at the protest or in the crowd, or if you know of anyone who was present, please contact Medi Jones with your memories and reactions to the protest.
Protest!
16 February 2008 – 14 February 2009
The National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth
Free Admission, Shop and Pen Dinas Restaurant open to visitors
For Further Information:
Medi Jones, Communications Officer NLW: 01970 632 534 lmj@llgc.org.uk
Link:
