Baldwin Wallace University - Grindstone Yearbook (Berea, OH)

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Moratorium 15

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14 They marched. And they marched. And they ma rched. On Thursday small streams of America's disenchanted youth began to flow into the na- tions capitai-by Saturday the stream had turned into a mighty river, swelling to such a degree that Washingtonts usual hum-drurn, business-as-usual atmosphere was turned into a second Woodstock. Those who had come with perhaps only a few friends found themselves part of the largest gathering Washington had ever seen. The numbers were estimated at anywhere from 200,000 to one million, but to those who partici- pated, numbers weren't important; anyone could produce a large crowd. To the dissenters there was a job to be done: to prove to the White House, the Silent Majority, and the irrelevant government that the needless war in Veitnam had dragged on just too long. Not oniy was the point made, but it was made peacefully. Both government empiovees and Washington police were amazed at the tolerance of the young activists: despite an almost hurricane-like rain- storm on Friday, the steady stream of dissenters carrying placards with the names of war dead moved between Arlington Cemetery and Capitoi Hill. Without losing the communaL holiday at- mosphere of The Movement, hundreds-of- thousands of protesters stood in a chilling wind for 5 hours on Saturday, and never even got to march. But they did get to know each other, and by this, they were strengthened. Sharing blankets, food, cigarettes, and the peaceful spirit, they sustained each other for three days and nights. In the process they proved to a distraught end polarized nation that peace can be achieved. It was, it is, and it will be.

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16 Prof. William Allman