DECLINES IN-U.S. ANTIWAR MOVEMENT
An: antiwar march in Washington May 15, sponsored by. SANE _ [National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy] and Women's Strike for Peace, was a fiasco compared to the giant parade of 30,000 last November. Sanford Gottlieb, coordinator of the drive, said on the eve of the demonstration that maybe 10,000 would participate, "mostly adults. " The- actual turnout Was "from 7,000 to 12,000."
The reason for the lack of enthusiasm and the poor response . |; was the absence of militancy, which in turn was related to the aim of the sponsors to use the demonstration to advance "peace" candidates of ‘the Democratic. party in the coming elections. :
‘One of. the main projected slogans of the demonstration was -
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if, Wes to “back ‘such candidates of the véry capitalist party that decided to escalate U. 8S. intervention: ‘in Vietnam ‘into a. Korean-type | war.
“Said: the. National Guardéan, a progressive. weekly published in’ ‘New: York:. "Because of what isome consider the excessive moderation ofthe. peace. pledge drivé,-sSignificant sections of the new. peace movement --~ while-not-opposing it -- are not supporting the Washington demonstration. Except for the DuBois clubs, few student oO groups ate-enthusiastic about:the voters protest. Neither do many of the pacifist, radical: left nor independent antiwar compaitees -actively support the drive."
The truth is that the rising opposition among ‘the American t= people to Johnson's escalation of the war has. greatly increased the 2opopularity ; of slogans:.and aims much: to the left of such staid. paci- -ofist groups ‘as SANE, with the strong ties among its leaders. tothe Democratic party. The key Slogan reflecting this new mood is "With- “draw U. S. ‘Troops Now!" : “If: ‘the Washington. march. had. been organized around... this. - theme “Vor one‘close-to it, the demonstration would. undoubtedly have greatly “> surpassed last November’ s march. ion