College students. Students
for a democratic society
(SDS)
Jimi Hendrix
hippies/flower
children
how and why they opposed it
Muhammed Ali opposed by refusing to go to war (conscientious objector). He didn't agree with
the idea of it, down to religious beliefs and stating that he has no
quarrel with the Vietnamese people.
Martin Luther King opposed the War. He gave a speech entitled 'Beyond Vietnam'
about his opposition, suggesting that the US should stop bombing Vietnam and
withdraw from the War. He talked about peace movements and declaring a truce.
in 1972 Jane Fonda expressed her opposition to the War by visiting Vietnam and talking with
the North Vietnamese soldiers. She stated that the young men should be seen as equals and are no
different to Americans. A picture was taken of her on an anti-aircraft gun. This was published
and made the Americans see her as a traitor. She created a lot of publicity.
Bob Dylan wrote many protest songs against the war in the 1960's. The main song he
wrote about the Vietnam war was called 'times are a changin'. This song crowned him as a
laureate of a social movement.
Students for a Democratic Society (SDS),
held anti-war marches and other
protests. Held mostly on college
campuses.
John Kerry gave a Vietnam Veterans against the War
statement, April 23rd 1971. He stated that there is
nothing in South Vietnam that could happen which
could realistically threaten the US.
The Beatles wrote a song 'Strawberry Fields Forever'.
Since strawberries are red, the 'Strawberry fields'
represent the suffering and death of the American
soldiers in Vietnam. This song represents Americas
shaded knowledge about the Vietnam War.
other examples of songs they wrote showing
their opposition, 'Imagine' and 'Give Peace A
Chance'
John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono had a 'bed-in' against
the Vietnam War. Where they stayed in bed for two weeks
at a time, throughout the course of a year
college students noticed that at the age of 19 it was legal to go to war to fight and die. Yet
they were not the legal age to vote or drink alcohol. this started the 26th amendment.
television began to show footage from the Vietnam War and many Americans changed
their opinions on the war as they saw body bags leave the Asian rice paddies every
night in their living rooms.