airport”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/mp48sd972, When police forces tried to subdue the protest at 9:30 pm, students began yelling “freeway!”, and headed to Hollister Avenue and Highway 101. Daily Nexus). Panelists talked about the Vietnam anti-war movement. Guests discuss the Vietnam War protests during the 1960s. Protests against the war furthermore paved the way for imagining a better world, one in which people cared for each another and lived in peace. “A Defence of ROTC”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/r494vm27z, [(Krend, J. Joan Baez was a part of the outspoken liberal minority that had been speaking out against U.S involvement in Vietnam since the beginning of the conflict. Department of Special Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. Protests Against The Vietnam War - Common Slogans and Chants. UArch 101. When the group was confronted by the ROTC, a protestor drove his car directly into the line of ROTC members. Moving forward, an exhausted president, a heightened presence, and protests happening all over the country led us to 1968. Javascript must be enabled in order to access C-SPAN videos. Beginning in May of 1965, students protested and discussed the war in every way imaginable. University of California, Santa Barbara, Associated Students Records. May. The ROTC was voluntarily established at UCSB shortly after World War II and provided a way for male students during this period to fulfill their military obligations. In New York City, protesters paraded and held a rally in Central Park. Each escalation of U.S involvement in the war brought with it a new wave of student protest. [(“The U.S. Military has Invaded Cambodia”, University of California, Santa Barbara, Student Organizations Collection, Box 10). Vietnam War protests at the Pentagon, October 1967. The slogan "One, two, three, four! By 2:00 am the demonstrators had dispersed (Rimer, S. 1972, May 11. By 2:00 am the demonstrators had dispersed, (Cline, V. 1972, May 10). Many students viewed protests against the military institution as unjust and unsubstantiated. When Nixon and National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger further escalated the war through implementing Operation Linebacker in 1972, UCSB students grew furious. As rocks were being thrown back and forth, the ROTC threw a total of five canisters of tear gas into the crowd on Pardall. A police car then sped directly towards the back of the marching group and swerved off the road, injuring and arresting protestors. When police forces tried to subdue the protest at 9:30 pm, students began yelling “freeway!”, and headed to Hollister Avenue and Highway 101. Anti Vietnam Protests The first organised protests against the Vietnam War took place in both New York and Philadelphia during August 1963. 1967 was filled with both peaceful and violent student protests. Intrigued by this look at Vietnam War protests? The Student Peace Committee was a prominent voice in the ROTC debate. The war began in 1960 and ended in 1973.The war was marked by anti war protests around the world including New Zealand.. At 10:35 pm, a bonfire was set off in Perfect Park, and protestors began marching through IV to gain members for a march on the ROTC. “Non-Violent revolt asked by pacifist”, Though Baez’s non-violent rhetoric resonated with many UCSB students, frustration with the war and the rise of organized student activism in the 1960s mobilized thousands of UCSB students. The Vietnam War, also known as the Second Indochina War, was fought between America and the Communist forces in Vietnam. With time, however, troops in Vietnam grew to more than half a million Americans. ], [(“University Committee on War and Peace”, University of California, Santa Barbara, Student Organizations Collection, Box 10). While most of these opinions were made public through the Daily Nexus, a group of students and Santa Barbara citizens formed an organization called “Friends of the ROTC”, which defended the military group’s role on campus (see below). Additionally, reactions to the anti-war protests demonstrated the wide range of political opinions that have always been present on the UCSB campus, and how social unrest can facilitate meaningful debate. Vietnam Protests South Vietnam Vietnam Veterans Vietnam History Vietnam War Photos American War American History Good Morning Vietnam Combat Medic Que Son Valley, South of Da Nang, 1968 South Vietnam, January, 1968: Unavoidably out of uniform, Spec. Joan Baez was a part of the outspoken liberal minority that had been speaking out against U.S involvement in Vietnam since the beginning of the conflict. As opposition to the Vietnam War grew, protests erupted in communities and college campuses across the United States. University of California, Santa Barbara, Associated Students Records. Perspectives on the ROTC debate took on many forms. PhotoQuest / Getty Images We don't want your fucking war!" The first protests against U.S. involvement in Vietnam were in 1945, when United States Merchant Marine sailors condemned the U.S. government for the use of U.S. merchant ships to transport European troops to "subjugate the native population" of Vietnam. UArch 101. Before the Isla Vista rally later that day, about 250 students confronted 25 ROTC officers at the ROTC building. The protests were enormously influential in convincing Johnson to not run for re-election in 1968. The Vietnam antiwar movement was the first mass movement against a war in American history and one of its great moral crusades, yet most Americans recall only enormous protests and social chaos. The Vietnam War dominated the mid-to-late sixties and taught American elected officials the limits of their powers and their failure to play the role of an international patrol. Remind students that some protests were due to the conditions of war in general (SDS) and some were based on specific events such as the invasion of Cambodia. One of the primary debates within the UCSB student body was regarding the rights of the ROTC. Protests were initially peaceful and included sit-ins or teach-ins or marches, but they eventually erupted into violence. Finally, check out some of the most incredible Woodstock photos that will transport you back to 1969. The events that occurred during these years at UCSB reflected the anger, disappointment, and frustration of students with the U.S government’s decisions. The magnitude of this strike delivered an ultimatum to the U.S government, warning that if the U.S extends the invasion in Southeast Asia, turmoil will ensue on the home front. Timeline: Vietnam War and Protests From the Collection: Vietnam War. The ROTC was voluntarily established at UCSB shortly after World War II and provided a way for male students during this period to fulfill their military obligations. Beginning in May of 1965, students protested and discussed the war in every way imaginable. As the war in Vietnam raged on, music at home in the United States showed its displeasure for what was taking place overseas. Students participated through draft resistance, engaging in faculty discussions, attending teach-ins, and joining organizations such as the Student Peace Committee (see below). Included in this collection are materials about anti-Vietnam War protests -- the November Action Coalition, 1969, and the National Student Strike Rally, May 1970 -- and declarations of women's solidarity with the oppressed and victimized people of the Third World. They also triggered a … “Viet Nam protest today; vigil stirs counter-pickets”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/h128nf83m, Joan Baez, a widely known folk songwriter and activist, came to UCSB in October of 1966 to speak in. Department of Special Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. When student protestors began attacking the ROTC during the height of the war, many students defended the military program, claiming that ROTC officers were facing injustice and stereotyping. It was during this period that widespread disillusionment with the war began reaching the general American public. Protests 1945. The protests were sparked early in the 1960’s, during which they were based in colleges and large cities. 947 Views Program ID: 322373-1 Category: Vignette Format: Vignette Location: Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Common Slogans and Chants. The televised atrocities of the war and the exponentially rising cost to taxpayers was becoming increasingly evident. University of California, Santa Barbara, Associated Students Records. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Department of Special Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. Another Mother for Peace group founded. “Peace Committee ROTC Clash on ‘Academic’ Debate”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/tq57ns101, [(Hankins, J. A timeline of events leading up to and surrounding the Battle of Ong Thanh and the protests … In May of 1970, four students were killed by Ohio National Guard troops on the campus of Kent State University in Ohio during a protest. “Joan Baez describes Non Violence School”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/mp48sd947, [(Shelton, J. These took the form of movie showings, theater productions, lectures, speeches, and artwork. As police officers continued to drive through the crowds, one woman parked on Hollister told the Daily Nexus “Well they must have been [beating protestors], didn’t you hear the screaming?”. College students played an indispensable role in the anti-Vietnam war movement during the 1970s, and UCSB was no exception. Protests against the Vietnam War did not start when America declared her open involvement in the war in 1964.America rallied to the call of the commander-in-chief and after the Gulf of Tonkin incident it became very apparent that few would raise protests against the decision to militarily support South Vietnam. Most notably, Charles Marxer, a visiting professor had sympathized with students’ grievances. By 10:00 pm, when students realized a fence stood between them and the highway, they began walking back to IV, telling police officers they wanted no confrontation. October also marked the first of many rallies in opposition to the war, which in turn sparked the first student conflicts regarding the morality of America’s involvement in Vietnam. was chanted repeatedly at demonstrations throughout the U.S. in the late 1960s and early 1970s. No confrontational or violent incidents occurred. “Night actions rock Isla Vista”, (Eber, R.1972, May 11). m NBC and CBS, mirroring the American public’s growing opposition to the Vietnam war. “‘Friends of ROTC’ Formed by Santa Barbara Citizens”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/ww72bc81w, [(Russ, B. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The scope and intensity of the protests were major factors driving Johnson’s “Committee of Wise Men” to tell him in early 1968 that he had to end the War. Protests against the war also accelerated. There are many websites that have information on the Vietnam War. Jan 20, 2019 - Explore Larry Hellie's board "Vietnam Protests", followed by 140 people on Pinterest. https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/t148fj11g. On May 11th, the following day, Ronald Reagan walked off his helicopter onto Santa Barbara grounds, where he was greeted by 1,000 demonstrators. At 10:35 pm, a bonfire was set off in Perfect Park, and protestors began marching through IV to gain members for a march on the ROTC. 1967 was filled with both peaceful and violent student protests. “One officer was hit by a can and knocked down…two students climbed on top of the building, and 10 students were eventually allowed to enter the building to speak with Army Officers” (Daily Nexus, May 10 1972). ], [(“Are You in Favor of Peace in Vietnam”, University of California, Santa Barbara, Student Organizations Collection, Box 4). These protests were attended by American pacifists commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the Second World War. In late March 1966, a series of protests took place over three days across America. Not only could it not be won, the protests were tearing the country apart. Images and video of the devastation and brutality of both sides of the war were readily available to the public, and they were ammunition for the movement. ; 1963. Next, be sure read about how Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon prolonged the Vietnam War. Your email address will not be published. The debates, teach-ins, rallies, and protests that took place on campus are testaments to the abilities of young people to enact meaningful change. [(“New Draft Policy”, University of California, Santa Barbara, Student Organizations Collection, Box 4). The Vietnam War was characterized by so many protests that it can be confidently argued that the protests marked the greatest anti-war movement in the history of the United States. The Santa Barbara airport protestors received national news coverage fro. In early 1966, the escalation of the war in Vietnam continued. For instance, the previously inactive Young Americans for Freedom group mobilized in 1965 in order to protest SFPA actions on campus. Patrick Quinn, David Maraniss, and Mayor Paul Soglin talked about the Vietnam War Protests in Madison, Wisconsin, during the 1960s. America had been through nearly twenty years of the Cold War and they … UArch 101. During Fall Quarter of 1967, The Daily Nexus and El Gaucho were covered with letters to the editor about how the ROTC should handle student activism, and whether or not the ROTC should be considered for academic credit. Required fields are marked *. Like their counterparts overseas, local protestors espoused moral objections to New Zealand’s participation in the Vietnam War, including opposition to the weapons and tactics being engaged, and their impact on innocent civilians. Marxer led a class on US policy in Vietnam beginning in the 1967 school year. The extensive US bombing campaigns were a focal point for protesters, with anti-Vietnam war groups organising mobilisations against the war in major towns and cities. Prior to the occupation of the Military and Naval Sciences building, staff had also joined in on the discussion of the Vietnam War and the protests by students. When the Nixon administration approved the U.S invasion of Cambodia in 1970, rising anti-war sentiments coalesced into an unprecedented national student strike. Student Protests Campus unrest is one of the most-remembered aspects of the Vietnam War era, as students became increasingly involved in a number of social and political movements. Here are some of the many postings reminding students of the urgency of protest and circumstances of the war: In October of 1965, Students for Free Political Action (SFPA) sponsored the first teach-ins, movie screenings, and speeches from nationally recognized activists at UCSB. MP3 audio - Standard January 14 – 20,000–30,000 people staged a "Human Be-In" in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, near the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood that had become the center of hippie activity. “2,500 shut down S.B. One of the primary debates within the UCSB student body was regarding the rights of the ROTC. When the group was confronted by the ROTC, a protestor drove his car directly into the line of ROTC members. “The Time to Act is Now.”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/3x816n74p, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/rj4305584, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/bk128b88g, 1965, October 15). A police car then sped directly towards the back of the marching group and swerved off the road, injuring and arresting protestors. Despite a brief upsurge in protests following and resumption of the air war against North Vietnam in the spring of 1972, the factionalization of the movement and the withdrawal of most U.S. forces led to a decline in protests. College students played an indispensable role in the anti-Vietnam war movement during the 1970s, and UCSB was no exception. Vietnam War Protests. As that conflict escalated, the protests grew in strength, and some turned violent. 1967, October 31). Department of Special Collections, UC Santa Barbara Library, University of California, Santa Barbara. Then, have a look at this photo history of the Vietnam War, and these iconic 1960s photos. Thousands rallied against the war in notable public actions between 1967 and 1971. Anti-war slogans w… The Santa Barbara airport protestors received national news coverage from NBC and CBS, mirroring the American public’s growing opposition to the Vietnam war. While there is no one right answer for why the U.S. lost the war in Vietnam, Vietnam War Protests. We will be discussing the background information of the Vietnam War, and analyze the music and protests that spurred one of the largest social protests in the 20th century. In fact, the 10-year movement was a complex phenomenon that evolved strategically as circumstances changed. Learn how your comment data is processed. The validity of the UCSB Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) was being brought into question during this time as well, since many students believed its actions should be more accommodating to protestors. The musical and movie “Hair” contrasted the death culture of the Vietnam War with an idealized hippie culture of peace. While college students were not the only ones to protest, student activism played a key role in bringing antiwar ideas to the broader public. David Arnold’s Sociology 128 class about the war in Vietnam, non-violence, and taking political action. Amid the chaos of the Vietnam War across the Pacific Ocean and the protests at home, a conflict in the Bay Area proved inevitable. “Letter to the Editor”, The events that occurred during these years at UCSB reflected the anger, disappointment, and frustration of students with the U.S government’s decisions. May 1965. The first organised protests against the Vietnam War took place in both New York and Philadelphia during August 1963. As police officers continued to drive through the crowds, one woman parked on Hollister told the Daily Nexus “Well they must have been [beating protestors], didn’t you hear the screaming?”. These protests were attended by American pacifists commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of the Second World War. Behind the Anti-War Protests That Swept America in 1968 Anti-war demonstrators picketing in front of the White House on Jan. 19, 1968. When student protestors began attacking the ROTC during the height of the war, many students defended the military program, claiming that ROTC officers were facing injustice and stereotyping. Anti-Vietnam war protests in England and Australia; September 21. Supporters for the end of the war used signs, most often for shock value. Joan Baez, a widely known folk songwriter and activist, came to UCSB in October of 1966 to speak in David Arnold’s Sociology 128 class about the war in Vietnam, non-violence, and taking political action. See more ideas about vietnam protests, vietnam, vietnam war. So did those of us active in the struggle against the Vietnam War. But the students all acted from a common belief that the Vietnam War was wrong. As rocks were being thrown back and forth, the ROTC threw a total of five canisters of tear gas into the crowd on Pardall. Though Baez’s non-violent rhetoric resonated with many UCSB students, frustration with the war and the rise of organized student activism in the 1960s mobilized thousands of UCSB students. Here are some we recommend that will help you with your search for causes, … These protests sent an unfiltered message to the U.S Government: that they would be held accountable for their decisions, no matter what the cost. Panelists included former anti-war activist Tom Hayden, historian Marilyn…, Leslie Bellais talked about some of the artifacts related to the August 24, 1970 bombing at Sterling Hall on the University of Wisconsin…, Amy Rosebrough visited Madison, Wisconsin’s, Native American Effigy Mounds and talked about what they reveal about the early cultures…, Jim Webb and David Maraniss talked about the major military, political and diplomatic developments in the Vietnam War during…, https://images.c-span.org/Files/485/20141116142944003_hd.jpg, © 2020 National Cable Satellite Corporation. 1966, October 20). Dates of the Vietnam War: 1959 -- April 30, 1975 Also Known As: American War in Vietnam, the Vietnam Conflict, Second Indochina War, War Against the Americans to … While 1,200 members of Santa Barbara’s social elite dined with Reagan, the demonstrators (mostly from UCSB) sang and chanted outside. [(Shelton, J. Protests, marches, and calls to action were ubiquitous around campus. The Vietnam War (Vietnamese: Chiến tranh Việt Nam), also known as the Second Indochina War, and in Vietnam as the Resistance War Against America (Vietnamese: Kháng chiến chống Mỹ) or simply the American War, was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. ], [(Rimer, S; Haight, A. They marched throughout campus and into Oglesby’s History of California class in Campbell Hall, gathering more and more students as they went. Share: Copy Link. By 10:00 pm, when students realized a fence stood between them and the highway, they began walking back to IV, telling police officers they wanted no confrontation. Fifty years ago, anti-war demonstrators took a … This event angered many students who felt that these violent protests were unjustified, as demonstrated by this letter to the editor of the Daily Nexus: The following day, 1,000 UCSB students gathered on the UCen lawn to continue the anti-war rally. UArch 101. 1971, November 3). “Riot damage in Tuesday action at approximately $6,000”, https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/g445cf259, [(Randall, T. 1972, May 10). [2] *This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning. The protests against the Vietnam War were a series of demonstrations against American involvement in the conflict between North and South Vietnam. Major Bailey told the Daily Nexus in 1967 that the ROTC faculty members would “jump at the chance to discuss the issues with anyone willing to take the time…Pacifist attacks such as those witnessed here recently do not help matters any” (1971, November 3), https://www.alexandria.ucsb.edu/downloads/bg257g27q, [(Samuelsen, M. 1967, October 3). Group was confronted by the ROTC, a for what was taking place overseas police car then sped towards! Showings, theater productions, lectures, speeches, and artwork November 3 ) was filled with peaceful. 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