In 1971 may GIs against war produced papers against
fighting. In April decorated veterans came to Washington to return their medals
ad ribbons. They all had received honorable discharge and had come to make a
statement. They threw their purple hearts and Bronze Stars over a barricade
made to block them and let them fall on the steps of congress. 110 of them were
arrested when they sat in protest on the steps of the Supreme Court and put
their hands on their heads just like the Vietnamese had to do when taken
captive. Groups of young veterans in masses spoke out against the war
testifying to what they and others had done (Tures 235).
They explained how they would beat people up without making
it look invasive (Tures 236.) They felt disenfranchised going off to war with visions
of glory and was nastier than they had expected it to be. The Vietnam Veterans
Against the War would carry out mock search and destroy missions handing out
flyers of what could have been done to those in the mall if they had been
Vietnamese.
When looking up images, I was interested to find another event
similar to this when the veterans also threw their medals in protest with the
government. This was in response to the Iraq war a few years back but it shows
the same suborn or strong opinion seen in some other young students. Because
the photographer decided to use a grey filter the picture looks older than it
is. The bill board in the back of the eventually it probably was the main thing
that gave the picture game while talking to her. It is good to see peaceful
protest, however it is also intimidated to advocate for rights more often.
Question, would you be willing to throw to get lawmakers attention?
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