This silent, raw footage shows some of the events of November 15, 1969 as 250,000-300,000 protestors gathered to rally against the Vietnam War. It was the largest group of demonstrators to appear in the District of Columbia since the civil rights throngs of 1963.
The New York Times reported the day’s events this way: “A vast throng of Americans, predominantly youthful and constituting the largest mass march in the nation’s capital, demonstrated peacefully in the heart of the city today, demanding a rapid withdrawal of United States troops from Vietnam…The predominant event of the day was that of a great and peaceful army of dissent moving through the city… In the lead were three drummers, followed by youths carrying aloft 11 wooden coffins that contained placards bearing the names of the dead…Next came a man bearing an immense wooden cross (seen in the film at 2:31), followed by a large banner saying ‘Silent Majority for Peace’ (see in the film at 3:10) and then row after row of marchers 17 abreast shouting, ‘Peace now, peace now.'”
Other highlights:
3:24 – Man with sign indicating “Free all political prisoners”.
3:50 – Washington Monument visible. Note the flags in the foreground, some have been substituted by protestors with homemade flags.
3:57 – No More Vietnams sign.
4:08 – International Socialists banner in crowd.
4:19 – Hare Krishnas offer food for the protestors.
5:03 — Vietnam veteran Michael Lane holds a protest sign.
5:34 – U.S. Flag displayed upside down
5:48 – “Bring them Home” sign
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
