The Mobilization

There have been few major demonstrations against the Vietnam war since November, 1965, when 25,000 people converged at the Washington Monnument to hear Norman Thomas say "I'd rather see America save her soul than her face."

In 1966, oponents of the war tuned to political action in the form of "peace campaigns." Now the elections are long over, and the war, for all the barrage of peace feelers and proposals for negotiations, seems more entrenched than ever.

The National Spring Mobilization, consisting of simultaneous anti-war marches tomorrow in New York City and San Francisco, should bring more than a hundred thousand opponents of the war together in a massive show of strength. And while no constructive program of opposition can be founded on demonstrations, such a show of strength is desperately needed if prospective candidates in the 1968 elections are to be encouraged to take meaningful stands on Vietnam.

Some of the more moderate opponents of the war have withheld support for tomorrow's marches because they don't think the speakers represent a true cross-section of anti-war opinion. Their point may be valid, but their logic is not. Complete agreement among the participants in such a march is impossible. Infighting can only discourage moderate participation, and encourage charges of domination by extremists.

There is no official policy to the Spring Mobilization save ending the war. All people who share this goal, and who believe the Johnson Administration is doing less than it might to achieve it, can in clear conscience march tomorrow.