Program about 1973 Demonstration in Washington, D.C.

The peace which will in the area here at Arlington will walking into the Kennedy grave so it is time so it is anything going on and you know in the Kennedy burial site of Robert Kennedy is very simple in all those years ago. To put it on because I attended the meeting a Quaker meeting and Antioch College at Yellow Springs for some years ago and it was an important spiritual experience for me which helped me realize that the Korean War was a mistake and the necessary thing something America shouldn't have been involved in. And from that background that I come with this case. So you were like we were involved in it. You're like me you know like you know the start point forty five you know I was in one of their college training programme story latter

part of the war and I served in the Pacific. I saw the first nuclear bomb test explosion. These things build up gradually in your mind. I saw the ships torn up by the test explosions. How much time in the Dominican Republic. Miami international pressure and the bombing stopped the second Airborne Division. Right.

OK. About a month ago National. Go to Hanoi. And it's. Something I'm going to share with us right now. It'll last. Myself three other people to go annoy. Letters while it's being held indoors and returning with letters from the pilots to their families. While we were in Illinois President Nixon started a obvious bombing and history the Vietnam War. The third day we were there until the day we left when there was a strike as the plane was taking to begin when we visited 30. Well there well that question the one question the

one really stands out in my mind now what is it you're pointing to the sky and saying what's happening here what's happening I thought the war was supposed to be ended in October. I did say it was a lot of people thought that. But I'm not going to really dwell on a period of years back we took 500 letters over the return of the 600 letters because those write really the important people in the Vietnam War the people are dropping the bombs. Aren't the main concern. The people who get involved. Our main concern. And that means talking about the children the men and women and the old people of Vietnam. I mean starting about their kindness their strength their political awareness their great humanity. In the 13 days that we spent in Vietnam. We did receive one bad reaction from the Vietnamese people and we were on guided tours. We were constantly led from this place to the next. The Vietnamese did take us to specific bombed out areas

but when we were in them in those specific areas we were allowed to wander the streets. We wanted to and we did. We walk without interpreters without guides talking to the people waving to the people smiling with the people and in that time that 10 days of intensive bombing not one bad reaction. As a matter of fact. When we were running down the street a child on a bicycle. But. When he saw it he slammed on his brakes reached into his pocket pulled out of your butt smiled and drove off. I know back in the States. The first word came out of the Pentagon about a place called Rock my. Was that a military target an airborne division head. When we visited that airport 12 hours after it hit. And prior to the Americans bombing it it was the largest medical facility and yet. Nine hundred twenty beds. A building buildings spread out over a couple of hundred meters. That

area was totally destroyed. When we got their. Workers were trying to dig out people that were still buried. Machines were destroyed the buildings were completely wrecked. That was the second time it had been. The precision of the bombing was so good. That the bombs were falling in the same craters the big ball and in the rate prior to this. Even if the government wants to say that these two raids were a mistake they came back the next day and bombed. The people that were trying to dig out what was left of the survivors. During that time or Illinois we visited approximately four major civilian areas that were completely leveled. And these places can't be considered military targets. Unless the government's going to say that they want to kill the kid so that they can grow what. They want to kill the men and women so they couldn't have children were going to factories. And they wanted to kill the old folks so they could watch the children. Because there was nothing around those areas except civilian

areas. Just places where people lived and worked. Not factories. Small shops open market places. What it came down to was the Texan. Tried to terrorize the Vietnamese people into giving up. Purposely bombing civilian areas and really bombing those areas and really bombing those areas. Trying to break the will of the spirit of the Vietnamese people. All I have to say is the day we left. One of the Vietnamese came up and he said you know Nixon's trying to pave the way to peace. With bombs. But if you keep it up we're going to pay the way to peace we're down to tears. And that. Now finally

we went to the hospital. The director of the hospital in a state of shock. And he pointed out to us that not one single patient had been killed. Patients died because of the medical attendant nurses. At that time. It was. Very alive. They never got out because. All I can say because I want to close it so that we get on that today we're marching marching just like. And I hope. That as we're marching. Or thinking about. Our relationship to the Vietnamese. Were thinking about our support but thinking about our solidarity the Vietnamese. And keeping quiet. And supporting the one point. And supporting the struggle and

yet we're supporting professional workers. Who are supporting women and children who died under the bombs. We're supporting the soldiers that are shooting those planes down. Or supporting the right of a small nation to their own culture their own language and their own independence from an imperialist United States. Thank you. If I am. I am. I am. Completely.

At. Peace. Good

luck. I am in the UK the writers of the five police. I am I am. I am the I am. The. OK.

Ok I am the. Yes. I am. Room. We. Would have to.

Go. That was a. Real mind. And a real willingness. Right. We have. Tried to get. The right opportunity.

Next. We want to. Turn on. I want to I want to bring. Down. An op.

Yeah every one and coordinator of the National Peace Action Coalition. Goes to demonstrations today. GARY me and. My. Sisters and brothers I'm trying to remember who it was. Who said that the American people don't you know anymore and that the manse anti-war movement is that. There are more Americans at the Washington Monument saying no to go one mile away at the inauguration saying you have to write your next one.

And that's the real magic of the way things stand today in this country. Now last Monday. Next is the U.S. bombing up north. Not because he suddenly opposes bombing. Not because he has a new found respect for human life. Not think hardly will ease the demand for money. Not because he realizes that the destruction of their homes and schools is a moral. No what happened is this the CIA and the FBI and the other US my agency's next CDF use the situation and not a lot of angry Americans were coming to Washington on January 20th not to view my current nation but their approach as they want.

So next on the side of the rack and the one I get on with looking at me. You know not everyone is convinced. You know I'm here in Washington I know you was and you was raised. No no no no no no no. I was I was.

Oh oh oh. And. Of course Nixon. The US is about to get out we say thing you believe. Were Nixon rumors have always been a dime a dozen. Or supposedly and we ended before the November election. But what was really at the end was the most murderous bombing in the history of warfare. We have not forgotten and we will never forget that. That's not one of them are those nobbler incinerates on heavily populated cities. Nor can we ever grace from our minds the ghastly memory I'm shattered Vietnamese by.

The by my hospital in room and the sickening devastation of Hanoi and Haiphong. We will not be fooled them or silenced by phony promises that once again Peace is just around the corner. Send me a free fire agreement for art like. The National Peace Action Coalition. As the man and one only welcomed a halt to the bombing which has been going on for eight years we have demanded and would welcome the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Viet Nam. We would be glad to seek an order of yours on both sides returned home. But but but the anti-war movement remembers the previous ceasefires in Viet Nam. Each time the ceasefire broke down and the fighting resumed

and the war raged on more viciously than ever. The latest polls. I agree ment will not end the U.S. intervention in Southeast Asia or even in South Vietnam and the US. Will still be maintaining to dictatorship in power. It will still only be supplying the Saigon generals with warplanes and munitions the US will still see to it that South Viet Nam's repressive police and military apparatus remains intact. Hundreds of thousands of political prisoners will still remain in dungeons thousands of so-called US civilian advisors many of them West Point graduates. Will still be swanning all over south.

The staggering military might of the United States will still be on the scene. Hundreds of U.S. warplanes will still be in Thailand and the Seventh Fleet will still be on the coast poised and ready to resume bombing operations at a moment's notice. None of the signing of the cease fire will not mean that the U.S. has engaged from Southeast Asia. So what will the anti-war movement. We marched for nearly a decade in the world of these wanna be enemies people. Can we stop Well the US to leave this puppet regimes and the peoples of love of Cambodia. Can we start while U.S. warplanes are still based in time. Can we

stop while the Seventh Fleet still threatens me. Can we stop while the US puppet regimes keep their jails filled with political prisoners. Can we stop. Will we ever stop while the US denies the peoples of Indochina the right to self-determination to Richard Nixon a cease fire agreement will be a scrap of paper to be discarded at will. If the two government threatened Nixon have already said you've already pledged to save it that is the reason for a continuing massive US military presence in Southeast Asia. So today we serve notice on Richard Nixon that our struggle for a full U.S. withdrawal from Indonesia you know will continue whether or not a cease fire agreement is

signed. Our demand remains what it always has been. For the immediate and unconditional removal all U.S. military forces. Planes ships military bases and advisors from Southeast Asia. This includes a cut of all funds for the two dictatorships and all other U.S. imposed regimes in China. Nixon tried to tear up the Vietnamese into submission but they would not give up. Their Christmas season rains did not break their spirit or in their struggle for self-determination. But the Samara bombing did trigger an international outcry of unprecedented proportions. People took to the streets throughout the world in massive numbers and Nixon was forced to back down. No one should ever underestimate

the power of masses of people out in the streets. Nixon least of all. Nixon did not catch on the Cambodian invasion in 1970 because he wanted to but because masses of people in the streets parsed him till. Nixon did not withdraw. I have a million Geo is from Vietnam because he wanted to but because masses of Americans in the streets. Forced him so. And Nixon did not suspend the bombing of North Vietnam last Monday out of the sun. He did so out of fear fear of you and me and all of us here will let him know we were coming to Washington today and now. Mass Action mass pressure masses the people on the streets. That is

the power the government fears and that is the way to end the US war against the peoples of Indochina. But if the pressure on the peace movement subsides the world will go on with new attacks on Hanoi and I find a new devastation. Now the National Peace Action Coalition urges all who opposes the war to go back to the streets on Friday night February 23rd or march on the Capitol to demand out now. I'm really at the Capitol it will be the opening session of the sixth national any word convention called by the National Peace Action Coalition the convention will be held in Washington D.C. February 23rd 24th and will decide major new actions for the U.S. in any war movement. All of you here are going to stations in the good jewels are urged to attend this convention and submit resolutions containing your ideas for what

next. Every person attending the convention will have a voice and vote. Finally let me announce that the student Mobilization Committee will have a conference the next day Sunday February 25th. This MC has been battling for years to end this war they're not stopping now. Every student strongly urged to attend this conference. Above all let us make sure that the any work groundswell in this country continues to gather steam. Let us resolve we're going to use the power we have. To end the slaughter we detest. Let us agree we're going to organize a mass movement in this country to end this war the likes of which Nixon has never seen and not just inauguration day let us tell Nixon in one united voice. We at this demonstration represent the aspirations and demands of the American people. We will not permit you to continue this bloody war and the burning us out of Southeast Asia.

Now you know. I mean really I mean you're really going to say and we only say it together they're going to. Go and sit on my ass. I i i i i i i i i i i i i i think i have enough and. I think the White House heard that this time. Right now that there is just one little problem those of you who are near the monument.

Now minds are being confiscated I don't like you that camp. I think the pressure of the crowd have called them the phone. You got me through. Would you kindly see to a good they're honoring me. And in flags that have been moved how I'm with them with the police department can't find them. So that they'll be no trouble about my thought and I hate staying behind. I'd like to present. To students out here I don't pronounce these names correctly they in turn will give you the correct pronunciation so cock up to back up that you got the best I could do with it from something university students United from Louisiana. And need Howard from Southern University. Damn. Been. In the scrum. Sometime a nation awaits.

I mean I think the opposition to imperialism and capitalism probably next. November 16 that is number one university. So you used to be there in the concentration camp of black people. Right now they are a large number of police. On campus. They were not allowing any expression of opposition to capitalism my boy. Probably thought first come with a camel in the face openly things in Coventry. Yeah student can I do the creation cause I'm always written upon request to be subject to dismissal from Mary action Nov. 6 feet two brothers look Douglas Brown and then with me receive disciplinary action. I want to know in private at present. Don't people there will James leave.

And could find a restraining order so they would not be able to voice their face right when I'm in the right on my way here. I find a new site in the office the first thing you say when you were trying to write out the Constitution we did not have those right. We all opposition to oppression of any people. We find our position to the oppression of the people in South Africa and Viet Nam in all of Southeast Asia. You want to know my weak on opposition to people. We got from the name. How do you. Know what you know that I shall be beloved gun. May not kill. To be to do the same thing. And tonight I agree with

you. And that's. Not the only thing we're not you're probably thinking. Do you like him. I mean. We. Haven't. Really Think. Anything. And we. Know. Now we not. Know. Let

me. Tell me. Your life. Right now. Then we want to you know I hope this is the

last time that any group of Americans will have to come together this way. Going to Spain and outraged over the continued military violence against the people and the land of a small and distant nation. If I'm not overly optimistic let me be on a cease fire. When that moment comes the energies of those who have sought peace in Vietnam must not be retiring from the scene. Rather. Than me you should become as concerned about ending violence at home as

right as we have been about ending destruction hunger violence to the body and the mind and hunger exists in this land of ours. Poverty can kill the spirit and God because poverty exists in this white man prejudice intolerance. They damage self-respect and prejudice and fear to walk the streets of one's own neighborhood is no less real than fear generated by the threat of bombing raids. Lucia no less than bums can main the area. Those who have so correctly expressed if May May over and opposition to the pilots we've inflicted on the people and land of Southeast Asia should not want so

that war is ended. Retire retire to the campus are retired in the suburbs or retire any place else. You shouldn't raise your salary in the same street demonstration and protests against the violence of poverty and hatred you have over the years a lot of weight and violence you know China. Fury energy. I needed to help make this land a peaceful society. Only then freedom finally and only in freedom can a man or woman become only capable of becoming. Thank you for coming. Stay with us. I'm going to introduce one of the distinguished congressman of the United States congressman.

God I think this man has guts. And it may be interesting in the United States coming from. I'd like to know everybody would like to talk today. I think you the congressman wanted to say. Thank you for coming. There's one thing this particular end of Pennsylvania Avenue

and that is that everyone here is a person of good will. And what we honor and celebrate is something that I think all of us can take some pride in person across the United States who has spoken out in the last several years. Each individual who tried to get his neighbor to read the Geneva Accords is going to learn the history and the culture and the beauty of the Vietnamese people has made a small contribution to the process which hopefully shortly in a final victory of conscience of the American people where by now both the people and the Congress have a firm majority which demands an end to American bombs and firepower in Indochina the

final victory if we can call it. Is not just of the well known public speakers who have spoken out senators Whitehorse in earnest Greening who voted against the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. But right now first out the truth the Berrigan brothers. Danielle Ferguson I will go to jail so that this country may know the truth. Loewenstein. And. Clifford. Top Tip O'Neill tried to persuade And finally perhaps persuade the mothers for the p o w wives to ask for an end to our involvement. But the final victory of the American really millions of small individual Americans whose

voices finally risen to an unmistakable pride in their. Individual representatives in Congress. And finally I think we represent the bombing. We have to name that it took a single tragic Christmas carpet bombing to finally awaken the conscience of a nation. But it happened. We need to exercise a constitutional right. And I think a constitutional for the privilege of being an American to peaceably assemble. For a redress of grievance. We meet at a time of reflection on past insensitivity regret over the time it has taken to change national policy over the way that our science and technology and industry have been translated. Killing and destruction but

also a quiet private one is best in each of us. Love and compassion. My At long last to become the policy of a nation as we rededicate ourselves today to a rebirth of conscience. What is not to be led into anger against others but with a reason not to continue on until the Congress has acted to remove the bombing. To really know what you have with the reforms of the continuing discrimination and problems here in America we render to Caesar what is there when we are not great a president. But there is a higher purpose for it. And the words we will not be humiliated or defeated or that we require peace with honor. How long might you might be. Right.

Do you. Really. Want to. Write. It well.

Thank. You and. Yet. We. Meet you with. My. Big Knife. This. Week we. Agree. With you. Crazy.

Game with this answer. Do you want to just gather together a dozen people out of the ordinary. Because. These people. That. We are. Now going to ask you to remind them. Thank you.