The first political protests of the vietnam war started when the draft was increased from 3000 men going to war to 33,000 men going to war to fight. Students, mothers and, hippies were the main citizens leading the movement for peace and stopping the war. This was also a time where communisim was threatened among the U.S. The U.S also believed that if they fell to communism bordering countries would also fall to the fate of communisim. Protesters believed that the warwas very political and that the people fighting the war lacked the right stratigies to complete their objectives
International coverage of the protests showed that as the years moved on the protests got larger and more vocal. In March 1966, 50,000 anti-war protesters took part in a rally in one of America’s most famous cities – New York. In 1967, 100,000 took part in a protest rally in Washington DC. In 1971, 300,000 took part in an anti-war demonstration in the same city. This particular protest involved many veterans from the war. When they publicly threw away their medals and medal ribbons, many in America were shocked that those who had worn the uniform of the US military had come to think that the only way ahead was to discard the very things that had been issued to them to represent their bravery – their medals. Many veterans used the opportunity to throw their medals on the steps of the Capitol building.
Student GET INVOLVED
College enrollment reached 25 million by the end of the 1960s. Colleges and universities in America had more students than ever before, and these institutions often tried to restrict student behavior to maintain order on the campuses. Many college students became active in their community to promote free speech. The joined the anti-war movement because they didn't want to fight over seas in a war they did not believe in.
LOVE NOT WAR
In the 60's hippies were known as activist for peace, love, happiness, and trying to stop the vietnam war. The use of drugs and music were much part of the protest making them want to rebal against the war. Hippies took protest to coffee shops and Berkley. Students died in confortations with the National Guard trying to protest the Vietnam War. Hippie numbers swelled throughout the U.S. and were the most common protester you would find during the time.