from Phillip Luce.
Students from at least 12 colleges and universities are among the 87 men of draft age who have signed an advertisement declaring that they will refuse to fight in South Vietnam. The advert, which first appeared in the National Guardian, is patterned on the one that French students and young workers signed opposing the Algerian war, It states: ".......Believing that U.S. participation in that war is for the suppression of the Vietnamese struggle for national independence we see no justification for our involvement..." The signatures include a wide range of political opinions, from 'limited' pacifists to members of the pro-Chinese Progressive Labor Movement.
This move was followed by the first major mass protest in the U.S. against the war in Vietnam. One thousand people, led by students and young people took part in a mass rally in New York City, followed by a protest march through Times Square to the United Nations building, The same day, demonstrations took place in San Francisco, Madison, San Juan (Puerto Rico) and Boston. More 100,000 leaflets were distributed. The outcome of this activity was the formation of the May 2nd Movement, ED NOTE: Phillip Luce is now under indictment for visiting Cuba last summer, and is treasurer of the May 2nd Movement, Issue 23 will include an extensive summary of the Manifesto of the May Second Movement,