March on the Pentagon

March on the Pentagon
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Name	March on the Pentagon
Date	October 21, 1967
Location	The Pentagon, Arlington County, Virginia
Type	Anti-war protest
Theme	Opposition to the Vietnam War
Cause	Escalation of the Vietnam War
Participants	National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, Students for a Democratic Society, Youth International Party, and other groups
Outcome	Mass arrests, increased media attention on the anti-war movement

March on the Pentagon. The March on the Pentagon was a massive anti-war demonstration held on October 21, 1967, as part of the growing national opposition to the Vietnam War. Organized by a coalition of groups including the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, the event drew tens of thousands of protesters to Washington, D.C. for a rally before marching across the Potomac River to The Pentagon. The protest culminated in a dramatic and sometimes violent confrontation with federal troops, including the United States Army and United States Marshals Service, resulting in hundreds of arrests and becoming a defining moment for the New Left.

Background and context

The march occurred during a period of intense escalation in the Vietnam War, following major operations like the Battle of Khe Sanh and the Tet Offensive. Public sentiment was increasingly turning against the conflict, fueled by rising American casualties and influential critiques from figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator J. William Fulbright. The anti-war movement, which had grown from earlier campus protests led by groups like the Students for a Democratic Society, sought to mobilize a broader national coalition. The choice of The Pentagon, the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, as a target was symbolic, representing a direct challenge to the military-industrial complex and the policies of the Lyndon B. Johnson administration.

Organization and planning

The demonstration was orchestrated by the National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam, a broad coalition often called "the Mobe," led by activists including David Dellinger and Jerry Rubin. Key organizing roles were also played by the Youth International Party (Yippies), co-founded by Rubin and Abbie Hoffman, who infused the planning with theatrical, countercultural elements. Logistics involved coordinating transportation from across the United States, securing permits for a rally at the Lincoln Memorial, and planning the march route to The Pentagon. The organizers faced significant opposition from federal authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Johnson administration, which prepared a massive security operation.

The march and rally

On the morning of October 21, an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 demonstrators gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for a rally featuring speeches by prominent figures such as Dr. Benjamin Spock and Muhammad Ali. A large contingent then began the march across the Arlington Memorial Bridge into Virginia. Upon reaching the north parking lot of The Pentagon, protesters were met by a formidable cordon of over 2,500 federal troops, including members of the United States Army Military Police and the 82nd Airborne Division, as well as United States Marshals and Washington D.C. police.

Confrontation and arrests

The standoff at the Pentagon's steps escalated into a prolonged confrontation that lasted into the night. Protesters attempted to breach the military lines, leading to sporadic scuffles and acts of civil disobedience. Some participants, inspired by New Age and Hippie ideals, claimed to attempt to "levitate" the building. Federal troops, armed with rifles and bayonets, eventually used force to push back the crowd, resulting in numerous injuries. According to government reports, nearly 700 arrests were made by agencies including the United States Marshals Service, with many protesters charged with trespassing. The events were widely covered by media outlets like The Washington Post and were later immortalized in Norman Mailer's Pulitzer Prize-winning account, The Armies of the Night.

Aftermath and legacy

The March on the Pentagon demonstrated the scale and determination of the Anti-war movement and is considered a precursor to the mass protests at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. It influenced political discourse, contributing to the decision of President Lyndon B. Johnson not to seek re-election in 1968. The event also exposed deepening societal divisions and was cited in later congressional hearings like the Church Committee investigations. Its legacy endures as a iconic example of nonviolent and theatrical protest, studied in the context of the Civil Rights Movement and the Counterculture of the 1960s, and remains a touchstone in the history of American social movements.

Category:1967 in the United States Category:Anti–Vietnam War protests Category:Protests in Washington, D.C. Category:1967 protests