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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



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Today in counterculture history (05/20) 2
#21701201 - 05/20/15 05:32 AM (8 years, 8 months ago) |
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- 1967: Flower Power Day in NYC
Quote:
Anti-War Activists Planning To 'Zap' New York Parade By JOHN SHANAIIAN NEW YORK (AP) - Thousands will march down Fifth Avenue tomorrow [May 20, 1967] in the annual Armed Forces Day parade and anti-war activists are circulating the word that they plan to "zap the military with love." The parade, which will feature some 7,000 active duty and reserve servicemen, is being billed as "power fox peace." Its sponsors, the Military Order of World Wars, says it's to be a show of "public appreciation for 'the service all members of the armed forces are performing for their country."
Flower Power Day
The anti-war faction is thinking of it as "Flower Power Day." The word is being passed I around through various channels for this group to gather in Central Park and to be prepared to do something themselves, possibly with flowers. "There's no single precise plan at this time," a spokesman said. But advance notices in leaflets and Greenwich Village papers indicate flowers might play a role. One advertisement in the Village Voice urged readers to "bring your things do your things." It showed a cartoon of a tank covered with peace symbols and surrounded by flower petals, and urged the anti-war demonstrators to "zap the military with love." The ad referred to tomorrow as "Dis-Armed Forces Day" and carried the line, "Don't let the generals and politicians make murderers of our brothers."
(The Courier-News (Bridgewater, New Jersey) 19 May 1967, Fri Page 2)
In May 1967, Abbie Hoffman organized the Flower Brigade as an official contingent of a New York City parade honoring the soldiers in Vietnam. News coverage captured Flower Brigade participants, who carried flowers, flags and pink posters imprinted with LOVE, being attacked and beaten by bystanders. In response to the violence, Hoffman wrote in WIN magazine, "Plans are being made to mine the East River with daffodils. Dandelion chains are being wrapped around induction centers.... The cry of 'Flower Power' echoes through the land. We shall not wilt."
On the following Sunday in May 1967, WIN activists declared the Armed Forces Day as "Flower Power Day" and held a rally in Central Park to counter the traditional parade. Turnout was low and, according to Hoffman, the rally was ineffective because guerilla theater needed to be more confrontational.
(https://en.wikipedia.org)
- 1973: The Camden 28 are found not guilty
Quote:
The Camden 28 were a group of "Catholic left" anti-Vietnam War activists who in 1971 planned and executed a raid on a Camden, New Jersey draft board. The raid resulted in a high-profile criminal trial of the activists that was seen by many as a referendum on the Vietnam War and as an example of successful use of jury nullification.
The goal
The goal of the group was to make a bold statement in opposition to the war in Vietnam by way of sabotaging the portion of the draft process that was administered through the local draft board in Camden. Their plan was to break into the draft board offices at night and search for, collect, and either destroy or remove the records of all Class 1-A status draft registrants. It was to be both a symbolic and real blow to the process through which tens of thousands of young American men were being drafted and sent to fight in Vietnam.
They wrote in a statement before trial:
We are twenty-eight men and women who, together with other resisters across the country, are trying with our lives to say “no” to the madness we see perpetrated by our government in the name of the American people – the madness of our Vietnam policy, of the arms race, of our neglected cities and inhuman prisons. We do not believe that it is criminal to destroy pieces of paper which are used to bind men to involuntary servitude, which train these men to kill, and which send them to possibility die in an unjust, immoral, and illegal war. We stand for life and freedom and the building of communities of true friendship. We will continue to speak out and act for peace and justice, knowing that our spirit of resistance cannot be jailed or broken.
Trial
By the time that the Camden 28 were brought to trial in the Spring of 1973, their case was viewed by many as a referendum on the Vietnam War. Each of the 28 faced seven felony charges stemming from the raid and more than 40 years in prison if convicted. The 28 chose to be tried together.
Immediately prior to the trial they were offered a plea-bargain whereby they would each plead guilty to a single misdemeanor charge and the rest of the charges would be dropped. After intense discussion the 28 decided that they would not take the plea and that as political activists they preferred to be put on trial. Historian Howard Zinn was brought in to testify on behalf of the defendants.
Unfortunately for the prosecution, its star witness Bob Hardy was feeling that he had been betrayed by the government. Hardy maintained that from the start of his interaction with the FBI he sought and received assurances that none of his co-conspirators in the raid would see any jail time. Now, as the trial loomed ahead, each of the "28" was facing more than 40 years in prison.
For the FBI and the prosecution, the cost of betraying Hardy in this fashion was to lose him as a friendly witness. Scorned, Hardy would now, in fact, testify extensively for the defense. Hardy would testify regarding the extent to which the FBI encouraged and enabled the raid on the draft board to take place. Through Hardy's testimony, the raid came across as being funded and driven by the FBI, and the defense was able to argue effectively that through the FBI, the government "over-reached" in its zeal to arrest and prosecute this particular set of anti-war activists.
Additionally, it became apparent that the FBI had enabled the plot to form and develop because it believed the Camden group might have been connected to the theft and publication of FBI documents in Media, PA several months prior. In fact, at least two of the Camden defendants (Keith Forsyth and Robert Williamson) had been involved in the Media burglary, though this was not revealed until they stepped forward in 2014. Those documents had revealed the COINTELPRO program, and the Camden defendants essentially used their own trial to publicize and question FBI methods.
On May 20, 1973, the jury returned "not guilty" verdicts for all counts against all 28 defendants, acquitting them. Howard Zinn had testified at the trial and recommended civil disobedience and jury nullification.
Documentary
A 2007 documentary film, The Camden 28, has been researched, produced and released by Anthony Giacchino, combining archival footage, contemporary photographs, extensive interviews and analysis into the most comprehensive account of the people, events and history surrounding the Camden 28. The Camden 28 aired in September, 2007 on PBS's P.O.V. independent documentary showcase.
(https://en.wikipedia.org)
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Edited by Learyfan (05/16/21 09:01 AM)
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 16 hours, 14 minutes
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Learyfan]
#23248772 - 05/20/16 05:40 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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Here's the Camden 28 documentary. I recommend it.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 16 hours, 14 minutes
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Learyfan]
#24334762 - 05/20/17 02:28 AM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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50th anniversary of Flower Power Day today.
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Connoisseur

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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Learyfan] 1
#24334888 - 05/20/17 04:53 AM (6 years, 8 months ago) |
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right on brotha
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 16 hours, 14 minutes
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Connoisseur] 1
#25216469 - 05/20/18 12:15 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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Right on Connoisseur!
45th anniversary of the Camden 28 being found not guilty today! This is one of my favorite moments of the Vietnam war protest era. These people were busted breaking into a draft board, with the intention of destroying records, and despite proof of their overwhelming guilt, they were found not guilty because of jury nullification. Read up on it, spread the word and practice it! All power to the people!
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Kimble
Idiot


Registered: 03/08/18
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Learyfan] 1
#25216683 - 05/20/18 02:19 PM (5 years, 8 months ago) |
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I really appreciate these "Today in counterculture history" posts.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 16 hours, 14 minutes
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Kimble]
#26682888 - 05/20/20 09:17 AM (3 years, 8 months ago) |
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That's nice to hear, Kimble! Glad you enjoy them. 
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Kimble]
#27315846 - 05/20/21 04:05 AM (2 years, 8 months ago) |
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Annual bump.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 16 hours, 14 minutes
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Learyfan]
#27785220 - 05/20/22 04:04 AM (1 year, 8 months ago) |
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55th anniversary of Flower Power Day in NYC.
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Learyfan
It's the psychedelic movement!



Registered: 04/20/01
Posts: 34,086
Loc: High pride!
Last seen: 16 hours, 14 minutes
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Re: Today in counterculture history (05/20) [Re: Learyfan]
#28327283 - 05/20/23 08:23 AM (8 months, 6 days ago) |
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50th anniversary of The Camden 28 being found not guilty today. It was a miracle!
-------------------- -------------------------------- Mp3 of the month: The Apple-Glass Cyndrome - Someday
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