Wednesday 11 August 1971 | John Lennon
John Lennon and Yoko Ono attended a protest march in London on 11 August 1971. The day was also filmed as part of a project with the working title Your Show.
Art Spectrum at Alexandra Palace
In the afternoon, Lennon and Ono attended the opening of Art Spectrum, an art exhibition held at Alexandra Palace in north London. The exhibition was a large-scale showcase of contemporary British art.
Yoko Ono was herself a significant figure in the international avant-garde art world, having been associated with the Fluxus movement since the early 1960s. Her 1964 book Grapefruit — a collection of conceptual art instructions — had been reissued in 1970 and introduced her work to a wider audience.
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The protest march
After the exhibition, Lennon and Ono went to Marble Arch, where they joined a protest march through the streets of central London. The march was held in protest against two issues:
Internment without trial in Northern Ireland — On 9 August 1971, the British government had introduced internment, allowing the detention of suspected terrorists in Northern Ireland without trial. The policy, which targeted primarily republican suspects, was deeply controversial and led to widespread civil unrest. Lennon and Ono joined the march just two days after internment was introduced.
The Oz obscenity trial — The editors of the British counterculture magazine Oz — Richard Neville, Jim Anderson and Felix Dennis — had been convicted of obscenity charges following the publication of their ‘Schoolkids Issue’ in 1970. They received custodial sentences in July 1971, sparking widespread protests from the British left and counterculture. The sentences were later overturned on appeal.
Lennon and Ono were photographed during the march, with Lennon holding a copy of Red Mole — a Trotskyist newspaper — bearing the front page headline “For The IRA Against British Imperialism”. The photograph became one of the most politically charged images of Lennon’s post-Beatles career.
This was one of Lennon’s final public appearances in Britain. He and Ono left for the United States later in August 1971, and Lennon never returned to the UK.
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Key Facts
| Date | Wednesday 11 August 1971 |
| Afternoon | Art Spectrum exhibition opening, Alexandra Palace, London |
| Evening | Protest march from Marble Arch through central London |
| Causes | Internment in Northern Ireland; Oz obscenity trial sentences |
| Notable image | Lennon photographed holding Red Mole with headline “For The IRA Against British Imperialism” |
| Significance | One of Lennon’s final public appearances in Britain; he left for the US later in August 1971 and never returned |
Marble Arch, London — the starting point of the protest march that John Lennon and Yoko Ono joined on 11 August 1971.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the protest march about on 11 August 1971?
The march protested against two issues: the British government's introduction of internment without trial in Northern Ireland on 9 August 1971, and the custodial sentences handed down to the editors of Oz magazine following their obscenity trial in July 1971.
What was the Oz obscenity trial?
The editors of the British counterculture magazine Oz — Richard Neville, Jim Anderson and Felix Dennis — were convicted of obscenity charges following the publication of their 'Schoolkids Issue' in 1970. They received custodial sentences in July 1971, which were later overturned on appeal.
What was Red Mole?
Red Mole was a British Trotskyist newspaper. Lennon was photographed during the march holding a copy with the front page headline "For The IRA Against British Imperialism".
Was this one of John Lennon's last appearances in Britain?
Yes. John Lennon and Yoko Ono left for the United States later in August 1971. Lennon never returned to the United Kingdom.
What was Art Spectrum?
Art Spectrum was a large-scale contemporary British art exhibition held at Alexandra Palace in north London. Lennon and Ono attended its opening on 11 August 1971.
→ Recording: All Things Must Pass by George Harrison – 11 August 1970
→ John Lennon and Yoko Ono move into Tittenhurst Park – 11 August 1969
→ The Beatles Knowledge Hub
→ August in Beatles History
→ On This Day in Beatles History
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