Executive+Summary

University Protests against the Vietnam War such as Columbia University, NY, were iconic symbols of the new generation rebellion of the 1960’s. Next to events like Woodstock they are one of the first images that come to mind when the decade is brought up. These protests took place in more places than the few that are well known today though. In locations as close as the University of Minnesota other riots were taking place over the same reasons and although they were not met with as much police resistance as other protests and did not receive as much national recognition they were just as significant as the ones remembered today. The events at the university showed how the public over the entire United States were against the war, especially the younger generation. From Martin Luther King Jr.’s visit in 1967 students had a very negative look upon the war in Vietnam. They advocated against the government and their decision to occupy a foreign country. The 60’s were a time of new acceptance and revolting against former standards set down by previous generations and by protesting against this war they were taking high action against both. As the years progressed though the protests across the country became more violent and became riots with clashes against police officers and in more extreme cases the National Guard. The frustration was growing among students as the war continued to go on with more and more images of death were released to the public. Despite heavy opposition by the public the government did not falter with their decision of occupation and this made many feel that violent action would have to be taken if they were to fight the government and make their words clear to them. It was very much like the British equivalent protests our class read in “My Revolutions” where as the war continued the main character Chris took more and more desperate actions to make sure their views on the Vietnam war were made clear and public as possible. He started off in peaceful protests but it escalated to similar protests in the United States where clashes with the police took place to a terroristic bombing. Our government felt that the University of Minnesota protest would escalate just like the protests in “My Revolutions” and other protests across the country such as university of Columbia. Before the protest began police were already ready for and armed. The protest began hectically as the students formed makeshift barricades and tore down the ones made by the Police. There were small clashes between the protesters and the police and the National Guard was called in for assistance in quelling the riot. Although it was not a completely peaceful protest it was tame compared to other riots where the National Guard had to take a step in the stop it. The protest caused lots of property damage and a good number of injuries and arrests but did not escalate to the sometimes deadly university riots of the time. This is probably why it is not heard about as some other universities, there were no deaths or occupation of private property. The things we remember are the things that stick out most in our mind which were things which involved the extreme side of the protests. This protest was important despite its fading spot in history because it showed that it was not just a handful of violent outbursts against the police but a widespread idea that took place all over the country that were not run by violence loving anarchists but by students who cared about their beliefs against the war that wanted to use violence to get their point across but kept it mostly in check. Our Wiki was made to cover this idea through each page on the Wiki. Each of use wrote about a different subject, and posted it on the Wiki. It also allowed us to convey our ideas and all the basic concepts in a well organized way.

By Justin McKenzie