Vets' History: Operation "Dewey Canyon III"
By VVAW
In April of 1971 the war was raging in Indochina. The vast majority of American were sick and tired of it and wanted the war to end. Thousands and thousands were actively demonstrating their opposition to the war as the US government was losing more and more support for its Vietnam policies.
Soldiers in Vietnam were refusing to go on combat missions. At home, veterans formed a national organization, Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). It was in April of 1971 that VVAW held its first national demonstration to protest the war in Vietnam. The demonstration was named "Operation Dewey Canyon III" (Dewey Canyon I and II were secret operations into Laos that were never reported to the American people). It was held in Washington DC from April 18th to April 23rd, and was the most powerful antiwar demonstration held up to that time; it sparked off a series of major demonstrations that made it clear that the American people wanted the US out of Indochina.
From Vietnam Veterans Against the War, http://www.vvaw.org/veteran/article/?id=1656
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BBM: Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW) 1971. --A defining moment in a long, ten year battle of war abroad and major resistance at home.
Much has been written in reflection but if you look at the politics, at all the social change, this country elected the conservative Nixon overwhelmingly.
So, while our youth gathering by the millions in demonstration across America is surely not pointless (as some have said) because whether or not it emboldens a new electorate, emboldens change, remains to be seen, but a word of caution because it also emboldens everyone on two sides of an issue.
The advantage of youth is spirit, the advantage of age is patience. The complexity of addressing gun violence vs the second amendment in America is going to require both. And 'government moves like an ocean liner, not a speedboat', to quote a wise former president.
Are kids in it for the long haul? They appear very focused. And their loss is personal. What is spectacular is their movement, moved the Florida legislature, moved corporations, brought it to the national stage, and put politicians invested in one lobby on notice. They've done more in two months than at anytime since the assault weapon ban was quietly expired in 2004. -jmo
Kids understand body bags