Protests+Against+The+Vietnam+War

   

 The protest movement against the Vietnam War was a very widespread issue in the United States. This was so widespread, that it didn’t just include one group of individuals; it involved people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds. This marked one of the most notable times that Americans from all walks of life joined together to fight one cause. This Wiki will be covering who protested, what they did and why they did it, the anti-draft groups, and some of the major/notable protests.

Different protesters   There were many people who protested against the war in Vietnam. Some of those people were college students, parents, future soldiers, and contentious objectors (such as religious individuals). They formed groups, so that they could be noticed easier, and have a greater impact. Each of these different groups of people had their own reasons for objecting the war, but they all shared a common goal: get the US out of Vietnam.  Reasons for Protests

__College students__: The college students are probably the most famous group of protesters, even though not every college student was a protester. A reason for so many college student protests is because many college students were of age to be drafted, and they would protest if they didn't want to serve (see below). Some famous examples of college students protesting are, [|Kent State], as well as the examples listed in the last paragraph on this page.



__Future Soldiers__: Future soldiers often protested against the war, if they didn't want to fight. This includes those individuals who didn't actually fight. Those who didn't fight, usually got out of fighting by leaving the country and going somewhere such as Canada, or by going in front of a draft board, and getting approved as a contentious objector. A good example of a future soldier who protested is Tim O'Brien, the author of "The Things They Carried". He was almost a draft dodger who left for Canada, but ended up changing his mind and serving.

__Parents__: Parents of the men and women being sent off to Vietnam were also one of the groups protesting. In many cases, the mother showed her concern more than the father. M om didn't want her little boy drafted to a war where he was "bombing and destroying" for people who hated us. 

__Contentious objectors__: These protesters are typically young men and women who feel that war is wrong, due to thoughts they arrived at on their own, or more commonly, the ideas of their religion. They believe that all war is wrong, not just the war currently happening. To avoid being drafted, they must pass an interview with the local draft board. Being a contentious objector doesn't necessarily mean that the person could get completely out of the war. They would just have a job in the military that didn't involve them being on the lines, fighting the war. They could be a medic, or fill some other position that doesn't involve the harming of others.

Tactics Used

Some of the tactics used to protest the Vietnam War were: draft card burning, marches, music, and draft dodging. __Draft Card Burning__: This was one of the most common tactics used by citizens who were of age to be drafted. This tactic is basically what the name implies, as the participant burnt his draft notice card. It was usually completed in groups at other protests, such as large gatherings in public places. __Marches__: As with many other events in history, one of the primary tactics used to protest the war were marches. Some of the more famous marches that occurred were: the march on April 17, 1965 that was sponsored by the Students for a Democratic Society in Washington D.C., the march on the Pentagon on October 22, 1967, and the march on November 15, 1969 where over 600,000 people marched against the war, also in our nation's capital. __Draft Dodging__: This was one of the only forms of protest that were not meant to be seen. There were multiple ways of dodging the draft: escaping to Canada, taking specific college courses, and holding certain jobs such as lawyers. Others avoided the draft by enlisting in units such as the National Guard, so that they would be less likely to be sent to Vietnam. It is **suspected** that many current politicians from powerful families employed this tactic, with George W. Bush being among the most notable. __Media__: The media had a huge impact on the protest of the Vietnam War. Television, newspapers, and magazines showed awful, raw pictures and videos from the war giving it a negative connotation. This caused artists to create songs regarding their opinion the war. For some more information on protest music, go to Music and Vietnam.

Famous Protests

Some of the most famous protests against the war were at Kent State University where 4 students were killed by the National Guard and 9 were wounded. The "Vietnam Day" protest by students of University of California-Berkeley was where they marched to United States military offices in Oakland, California to protest the war. The University of California-Berkeley was also the site of the first major draft card burning. On March 24, the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) held the first [|teach-in] at the University of Michigan. Approximately 2,500 people were involved in the event. The largest teach-in was held at UC-Berkeley from May 21-23, 1965.

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Legacy of the War/Protest

<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS', cursive;">With an issue as large scale and controversial as the Vietnam War and its protestors, the issues surrounding it are not going to be solved and ended quickly. In fact, one could even argue that the situation still hasn't been completely solved today. The war itself, as well as the conflicts surrounding it, has affected the world even in the short time since the end of the conflict. One example of this that includes the US, was during the Presidency of the first George Bush. The US decided not to get involved with the civil war in Yugoslavia in 1991, because Bush feared that the situation could very easily turn into another Vietnam. The war still affects the people who were involved, that are still involved today. Many former soldiers still refuse to talk about the war, and let the thoughts of the horrible things that happened there, get back into their head. Many protestors still have not forgiven the government for the US's involvement in Vietnam. Some examples of this are shown here.