Frontline America The Ten Thousand Day War : Season 1 Episode 16

Episode Sixteen covers American society from late '67 forward. This period involves some of the most violent dissent in America since the Civil War. October '67, the march on the pentagon brings together the all the factions of the anti-war movement in a huge protest march. The administration views the protesters as political shills in support of communism. The peoples view was that we were indiscriminately bombing anyone and everyone, the television images every night of the destruction in Vietnam bring home the fact that what the government was saying about the war was not true. LBJ is increasingly intolerant of opposition viewpoints dismissing advisers that take an opposite view of his position. The black civil rights movement adopts the slogan "Hell No, We Wont Go" which is adopted by the peace movement altogether. The draft is now challenged by young Americans with many leaving the country to avoid military service in a war that is increasingly viewed as American government imperialism in action. Thousands of young choose prison rather than serve in the military in what is considered an unjust war. Tet brings the war home on TV every night. The only places LBJ gets support is the military bases, otherwise, he sees protests everywhere he goes, even overseas. The assassinations of MLK and Robert Kennedy spark riots in the anti-war movement, Washington mobilized 15,000 troops to put down the protests there. Which is also brought to the American public on TV every night. The war goes on for four more years, but Americans now have a general distrust of government that never existed before.