BBC ON THIS DAY | OCTOBER 20 | 1967: Thousands join anti-war movement
BBC ON THIS DAY | 20 | 1967: Thousands join anti-war movement1967: Thousands join anti-war movement
The biggest demonstration yet against American involvement in the Vietnamese War has taken place in the town of Oakland, in California.
An estimated 4,000 people poured onto the streets to demonstrate in a fifth day of massive protests against the conscription of soldiers to serve in the war. The city was brought to a standstill as protesters built barricades across roads to prevent buses carrying recruits to the Army's conscription centre. Police reinforcements came in from San Francisco as the protests turned violent.
Demonstrators, many wearing helmets and holding plywood shields, overturned cars and threw bottles, tin cans and stones at the police. Four people were injured and seven arrested.
Nationwide campaign
There was no repeat of the scenes three days ago, however, when police in Oakland used clubs and chemical sprays to clear the streets. The heavy-handed treatment of demonstrators caused outrage throughout the country. Today's demonstration was part of what is being called "Stop the Draft Week" - a nationwide initiative which has seen peace marches in cities across the United States. It is expected to move to Washington DC tomorrow, and demonstrators are said to be targeting all roads to the capital. It is thought up to 40,000 could join a protest march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Pentagon.
Draft cards burnt
The demonstrators are trying to disrupt military induction centres, encouraging large numbers of young men to turn in their draft cards. Many are burning the cards - an illegal act under a law passed by Congress two years ago. About 50 conscientious objectors have already been sent to jail for their protest. It is estimated up to 7,000 have left the country, mainly to Canada, to avoid the draft.
Recent polls suggest that American support for the war in Vietnam is declining steadily.
President Johnson is under attack from those who believe he is not being aggressive enough on Vietnam as well as those who think he should withdraw. A Gallup poll published earlier this month showed his popularity rating plummeting to the point where if an election were held at this point in his term of office, he would lose by a landslide.
(ElChimpo Was Hiding in the High Grass behind his Ambassador Father's (Bush 41's) house. He was 18, and had not gone ABSENT WITH-OUT LEAVE, or AWOL as of yet.) *aj*
The biggest demonstration yet against American involvement in the Vietnamese War has taken place in the town of Oakland, in California.
An estimated 4,000 people poured onto the streets to demonstrate in a fifth day of massive protests against the conscription of soldiers to serve in the war. The city was brought to a standstill as protesters built barricades across roads to prevent buses carrying recruits to the Army's conscription centre. Police reinforcements came in from San Francisco as the protests turned violent.
Demonstrators, many wearing helmets and holding plywood shields, overturned cars and threw bottles, tin cans and stones at the police. Four people were injured and seven arrested.
Nationwide campaign
There was no repeat of the scenes three days ago, however, when police in Oakland used clubs and chemical sprays to clear the streets. The heavy-handed treatment of demonstrators caused outrage throughout the country. Today's demonstration was part of what is being called "Stop the Draft Week" - a nationwide initiative which has seen peace marches in cities across the United States. It is expected to move to Washington DC tomorrow, and demonstrators are said to be targeting all roads to the capital. It is thought up to 40,000 could join a protest march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Pentagon.
Draft cards burnt
The demonstrators are trying to disrupt military induction centres, encouraging large numbers of young men to turn in their draft cards. Many are burning the cards - an illegal act under a law passed by Congress two years ago. About 50 conscientious objectors have already been sent to jail for their protest. It is estimated up to 7,000 have left the country, mainly to Canada, to avoid the draft.
Recent polls suggest that American support for the war in Vietnam is declining steadily.
President Johnson is under attack from those who believe he is not being aggressive enough on Vietnam as well as those who think he should withdraw. A Gallup poll published earlier this month showed his popularity rating plummeting to the point where if an election were held at this point in his term of office, he would lose by a landslide.
(ElChimpo Was Hiding in the High Grass behind his Ambassador Father's (Bush 41's) house. He was 18, and had not gone ABSENT WITH-OUT LEAVE, or AWOL as of yet.) *aj*
posted by A. J. Franklin @ 15:24
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