Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on April 26, 1971.
125 Students Take Part In Peace March
An estimated 125 Valparaiso University students marched on the courthouse Saturday morning in support of Vietnam Solidarity Days.the students carried flags, placards and sang patriotic songs as they walked from the university, via Lincolnway, to the courthouse war memorial where a brief rally was held.
Gene Gross, VU junior from East Lansing, Mich., a march coordinator, explained to the crowd that the United States government policy in Southeast Asia was immoral, unnecessary and a failure. Gross stated that it was part time for the American people to take matters into their own hands and sign a separate peace with the Vietnamese.
Following Gross’s talk, marchers divided into groups and passed out copies of the People’s Peace Treaty, described as “a joint treaty of peace between the people of the United States, South Vietnam and North Vietnam.”
According to this peace treaty, Americans will set a date of total withdrawal of troops, the Vietnamese will agree to an immediate cease fire, all military prisoners will be released, Vietnamese will form a provisional coalition government to organize elections, all parties will guarantee the safety and political freedom of persons involved in the war and all parties will respect the independence, peace and neutrality of Laos and Cambodia.
Police Chief Lee Miller later described the marchers as “well-behaved” and reported the only incident occurred when an unidentified local resident jumped from his automobile, tore down a make-shift Viet Cong flag from a flag pole and drove away.
The turnout of 125 was far below the estimated 500 expected. Various students said the low number was because of chilly weather the general feeling of hopelessness on college campuses, the alleged inability of citizens to influence government policy and the memory of Kent State.
To Courthouse
Nearly 125 Valparaiso University students marched down Lincolnway Saturday protesting American involvement in Vietnam. Group held rally at courthouse. Copies of People’s Peace Treaty were distributed to members of community. Demonstration was noisy but peaceful, police said.
