The March on Washington, October 21, 1967

The organizers of the March on the Pentagon on March 17, 2007 made much of the fact that it's the 40th anniversary of the 1967 antiwar march.  In 2007 it's cold and dreary, and the demonstrators had to run a gauntlet of counter-protesters.  The 1967 march was a on beautiful fall day.  The government was so concerned about what might happen at this protest that they called up the 82nd Airborne.  Most of the troops were held back, and things didn't turn nasty until a few demonstrators tried to storm the Pentagon.  Abbie Hoffman was there, declaring that he was going to channel the psychic energy of the crowd to levitate the building.  He failed. 

Here are a few memories.

Read the account from The Cavalier Daily, 10/24/67

Dr. Benjamin Spock, Norman Mailer, Robert Lowell and others were in the front ranks as the march left the Lincoln Memorial, across Memorial Bridge to the Pentagon.  Click on the image for a bigger photo; see how many people you recognize.

The Lincoln Memorial was the backdrop for the speeches and music.  You may remember this scene from the movie Forrest Gump, which did an excellent day of recreating the day.  The only main difference is that the movie showed unkempt radicals at the podium, while most of the speakers were conservatively dressed in jackets and ties.

Don't know who the guy at the left is supposed to represent, but he was getting a lot of attention.  On the right, a poster that indicates not everyone was peaceful and tolerant.

I think I must have some more pictures somewhere - just have to dig them out of the archives. Were any of you there?  Do you remember the time?  Share your memories.