National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam
Encyclopedia
The National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam was a relatively short-lived coalition of antiwar activists formed in 1967 to organize large demonstrations in opposition to the Vietnam War. The organization was informally known as "the Mobe".
Mobe was formed following the Spring Mobilization Conference held in Washington D.C. May 20-21, 1967, a gathering of 700 antiwar activists called to evaluate the antiwar demonstrations, including draft-card burning
s, that had taken place on April 15, 1967 in New York City
and San Francisco, and to chart a future course for the antiwar movement. The conference set another antiwar action for the fall of 1967 and created an administrative committee to plan it. That committee was the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam.
Mobe planned a large demonstration for Washington D.C. on October 21, 1967. This demonstration was a rally at West Potomac Park near the Lincoln Memorial
and a march to the Pentagon
, where another rally would be held in a parking lot, followed by civil disobedience
on the steps of the Pentagon itself. The action was known as the "March on the Pentagon."
The initial rally drew some 100,000 people with about 35,000 marching and participating in the second rally at the Pentagon. About 800 people were arrested for civil disobedience on the steps of the Pentagon. A few individuals (who would later form the Yippies
) attempted by means of meditation and chanting to levitate the building and exorcise the evil within.
Following the Pentagon demonstration, the Mobe began discussion and planning for demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
, to be held in Chicago
, where President Lyndon B. Johnson
was expected to be nominated for a second term.
Tom Hayden
and Rennie Davis
were the key Mobe organizers for the Chicago demonstration, and would later be indicted for conspiracy and inciting a riot as members of the Chicago Seven
. The Chicago demonstrations did not draw many participants—about 10,000 at most—because it was widely anticipated that the mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley
, would deploy his police to prevent marches to the site of the Convention.
Following the election of Richard M. Nixon, Mobe organized a "counter-inaugural" to take place in Washington D.C. on the day of Nixon's inauguration
. This demonstration as well attracted only about 10,000 and was accompanied by street violence.
The National Mobilization Committee then disbanded. Future national marches against the Vietnam war would be organized by other groups. The similarly named and inspired New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (New Mobe) was founded at a conference at Case Western Reserve University in July 1969 and, together with the Vietnam Moratorium Committee and the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC) organized the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War held in October and November 1969. This group was later superseded by the Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice (PCPJ) and the National Peace Action Coalition (NPAC).
Some other individuals and organizations associated with the National Mobilization Committee include: Dr. Benjamin Spock and SANE
, Sid Peck, Eric Weinberger, David Dellinger
, Jerry Rubin
, James Bevel
, Stew Albert
, Karen Wald, Fred Halstead
, Brad Lyttle, Vietnam Summer, Robert Greenblatt
, and Tom Hayden
.
Mobe was formed following the Spring Mobilization Conference held in Washington D.C. May 20-21, 1967, a gathering of 700 antiwar activists called to evaluate the antiwar demonstrations, including draft-card burning
Draft-card burning
Draft-card burning was a symbol of protest performed by thousands of young American men as part of the opposition to the involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War. Beginning in May 1964, some activists burned their draft cards at anti-war rallies and demonstrations. By May 1965 it was...
s, that had taken place on April 15, 1967 in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and San Francisco, and to chart a future course for the antiwar movement. The conference set another antiwar action for the fall of 1967 and created an administrative committee to plan it. That committee was the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam.
Mobe planned a large demonstration for Washington D.C. on October 21, 1967. This demonstration was a rally at West Potomac Park near the Lincoln Memorial
Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
and a march to the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, where another rally would be held in a parking lot, followed by civil disobedience
Civil disobedience
Civil disobedience is the active, professed refusal to obey certain laws, demands, and commands of a government, or of an occupying international power. Civil disobedience is commonly, though not always, defined as being nonviolent resistance. It is one form of civil resistance...
on the steps of the Pentagon itself. The action was known as the "March on the Pentagon."
The initial rally drew some 100,000 people with about 35,000 marching and participating in the second rally at the Pentagon. About 800 people were arrested for civil disobedience on the steps of the Pentagon. A few individuals (who would later form the Yippies
Youth International Party
The Youth International Party, whose members were commonly called Yippies, was a radically youth-oriented and countercultural revolutionary offshoot of the free speech and anti-war movements of the 1960s. It was founded on Dec. 31, 1967...
) attempted by means of meditation and chanting to levitate the building and exorcise the evil within.
Following the Pentagon demonstration, the Mobe began discussion and planning for demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic National Convention
1968 Democratic National Convention
The 1968 Democratic National Convention of the U.S. Democratic Party was held at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago, Illinois, from August 26 to August 29, 1968. Because Democratic President Lyndon Johnson had announced he would not seek a second term, the purpose of the convention was to...
, to be held in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, where President Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson , often referred to as LBJ, was the 36th President of the United States after his service as the 37th Vice President of the United States...
was expected to be nominated for a second term.
Tom Hayden
Tom Hayden
Thomas Emmet "Tom" Hayden is an American social and political activist and politician, known for his involvement in the animal rights, and the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. He is the former husband of actress Jane Fonda and the father of actor Troy Garity.-Life and...
and Rennie Davis
Rennie Davis
Rennard Cordon “Rennie” Davis is a former, prominent American anti-Vietnam War protest leader of the 1960s. He was one of the Chicago Seven....
were the key Mobe organizers for the Chicago demonstration, and would later be indicted for conspiracy and inciting a riot as members of the Chicago Seven
Chicago Seven
The Chicago Seven were seven defendants—Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner—charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to protests that took place in Chicago, Illinois on the occasion of the 1968...
. The Chicago demonstrations did not draw many participants—about 10,000 at most—because it was widely anticipated that the mayor of Chicago, Richard J. Daley
Richard J. Daley
Richard Joseph Daley served for 21 years as the mayor and undisputed Democratic boss of Chicago and is considered by historians to be the "last of the big city bosses." He played a major role in the history of the Democratic Party, especially with his support of John F...
, would deploy his police to prevent marches to the site of the Convention.
Following the election of Richard M. Nixon, Mobe organized a "counter-inaugural" to take place in Washington D.C. on the day of Nixon's inauguration
Inauguration
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
. This demonstration as well attracted only about 10,000 and was accompanied by street violence.
The National Mobilization Committee then disbanded. Future national marches against the Vietnam war would be organized by other groups. The similarly named and inspired New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (New Mobe) was founded at a conference at Case Western Reserve University in July 1969 and, together with the Vietnam Moratorium Committee and the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC) organized the large demonstrations against the Vietnam War held in October and November 1969. This group was later superseded by the Peoples Coalition for Peace and Justice (PCPJ) and the National Peace Action Coalition (NPAC).
Some other individuals and organizations associated with the National Mobilization Committee include: Dr. Benjamin Spock and SANE
Sane
Sane is an English word meaning "of sound mind"; see Sanity.Sane or SANE may also refer to:* Sane Ancient Greek city* An archaeological site and a modern name of Sani, Greece*Sane, Mali...
, Sid Peck, Eric Weinberger, David Dellinger
David Dellinger
David T. Dellinger , was an influential American radical, a pacifist and activist for nonviolent social change.-Chicago Seven:...
, Jerry Rubin
Jerry Rubin
Jerry Rubin was an American social activist during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, he became a successful businessman.-Early life:...
, James Bevel
James Bevel
James L. Bevel was an American minister and leader of the 1960s Civil Rights Movement who, as the Director of Direct Action and Director of Nonviolent Education of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference initiated, strategized, directed, and developed SCLC's three major successes of the era:...
, Stew Albert
Stew Albert
Stewart Edward "Stew" Albert was an early member of the Yippies, an anti-Vietnam War political activist, and an important figure in the New Left movement of the 1960s....
, Karen Wald, Fred Halstead
Fred Halstead
Fred W. Halstead was a candidate for President of the United States of the Socialist Workers Party in 1968. His running mate was Paul Boutelle.Halstead played a very significant role in the movement against the Vietnam War...
, Brad Lyttle, Vietnam Summer, Robert Greenblatt
Robert Greenblatt
Robert Greenblatt is an American television executive and currently the chairman of NBC Entertainment.-Career:Greenblatt began his television career at the Fox Broadcasting Company where he ran prime-time programming and developed such shows as the original Beverly Hills, 90210 and Melrose Place,...
, and Tom Hayden
Tom Hayden
Thomas Emmet "Tom" Hayden is an American social and political activist and politician, known for his involvement in the animal rights, and the anti-war and civil rights movements of the 1960s. He is the former husband of actress Jane Fonda and the father of actor Troy Garity.-Life and...
.