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Title on Reel (transcribed from original)
Protest march, 1102 E. Main St., Parcel post building, November 9, 1967, SHERA
Date Created
1967-11-09
Reel Format
Super 8mm
Reel Description
This reel contains footage filmed outside of the Richmond Parcel Post Building at 1102 E. Main St., which also served as the induction center during the Vietnam War. Footage features a group of protestors supporting Dr. James Marvin Shea Jr.'s refusal to accept the draft. Towards the end of the footage, Shea is seen talking to individuals outside, potentially journalists. This appears to be a group of majority white participants.
Timestamp Description
00:00:09 Footage begins. Partially blurry footage of several individuals gathering on the sidewalk, some hold signs.
00:00:35 Individuals begin their picket, walking in a small oval. Filmed from the steps of the induction center, cars are visible on the road behind them. Some picketers have signs: "Support Shea", "Respect Shea's Right to Practice Non-violence". Some picketers carry leaflets.
00:00:57 Footage of three individuals walking towards the protestors. They stop and the individual in the center shakes hands with a protestor holding a sign. The sign reads: "U of Va SSOC [Supports?] Shea".
00:01:07 Footage of approximately seven individuals on the sidewalk, including one individual holding a baby. One of the individuals is James Shea, he wears a suit and tie. Footage is filmed from the steps of the induction center. Footage pans across all individuals as they walk towards the induction center.
00:01:16 Footage of two individuals speaking, one leaning against a building. Pedestrians are partially visible behind them.
00:01:20 Footage of the picket, approximately eight people walk in an oval. One individual pulls out a photograph camera. New signs are visible: "Back Shea!", "End the Selective Slavery System" with a peace symbol drawn in the corner.
00:01:36 Footage from a new angle, filmed from the street closer to the street, very close to the protestors.
00:01:59 Footage of the doors of the Parcel Post Building, with an "Armed Forces" sheet taped to the door on the left.
00:02:01 Footage filmed perhaps from inside the building through the glass doors, of two individuals on the other side of the door. A hand holding a cigarette is visible on the right side of the frame.
00:02:05 Footage of a torn piece of paper, perhaps a sticker, on what appears to be a car seat. The footage is very zoomed in. The sticker reads "Fuck You!"
00:02:07 Footage of two individuals speaking outdoors, one is from the protest earlier.
00:02:11 Footage of protestors and others sitting on the steps of the building.
00:02:15 Footage of two individuals speaking outdoors, one is from the protest earlier.
00:02:21 Footage of James Shea in a crowd of others, he appears to be speaking into a tape recorder, perhaps with a journalist. Footage is zoomed in and blurry, and pans around to film all the individuals surrounding Shea.
00:03:18 Footage ends.
Event Description
In April 1967, George Mason University (then George Mason College, under the direction of the University of Virginia) professor Dr. James Marvin Shea Jr., returned his draft card to the Selective Service System. In return, the Selective Service System changed his classification from IIIA to 1-A, making him eligible for enlistment despite being married with three children. On November 9, 1967, Shea reported to the induction center in Richmond at the Parcel Post building at 1102 E. Main St. While Shea took mental and physical exams, a crowd of approximately fifteen demonstrators protested the draft and Shea's potential forced service. They began their protest at 7AM, and Shea exited the induction center around 4PM. After passing the exams, Shea refused to take the oath of service and was allowed to leave (Richmond Times-Dispatch, November 10, 1967). Shea continued to be an outspoken critique of the war. More information about his time at George Mason is available via George Mason University Libraries.
Runtime
00:03:50
Topical Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Draft resisters; Anti-war demonstrations; Demonstrations; Draft; Draft resisters; Draft registration; Police; Police patrol--Surveillance operations; Electronic surveillance; Video surveillance
City/Location
Richmond (Va.)
Genre
color films (visual works)
Local Genre
moving image
Type
Moving Image
Digital Format
video/mp4
Language
eng
Rights Statement URL
Rights
This material is in the public domain in the United States and thus is free of any copyright restriction. Acknowledgement of Virginia Commonwealth University Libraries as a source is requested.
Collection
Richmond Police Department Surveillance Collection
Source
Protest in Support of James Marvin Shea, Jr. in Richmond Film Reel, 1967 November 9
File Name
VCU_M571_085.mp4