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Title on Reel (transcribed from original)
Moratorium Day, City Hall, 69
Date Created
1969-10-15
Reel Format
Super 8mm
Reel Description
This reel contains footage of individuals gathered in Monroe Park on October 15, 1969 for the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam. Footage includes a short clip at the Virginia State Capitol Building, a smaller demonstration at Richmond City Hall and the police dispersal of it, and the crowd walking down Broad Street. This appears to be a group of majority Black participants.
Timestamp Description
00:00:10 Footage begins. Zoomed in footage of the back of an individual, potentially on the steps of the Virginia State Capitol building.
00:00:13 Footage of a crowd gathered on the steps and sidewalk of Richmond City Hall. An individual holding a United States of America flag on a pole stands towards the back of the group on the steps. An individual is partially visible speaking, they wear sunglasses, a white turtleneck, a button up shirt, and a denim jacket. They hold a cigarette in their left hand. The crowd claps and cheers. The camera zooms in and out on the speaker.
00:00:44 The crowd begins to enter City Hall. An individual wearing glasses, a blue button up shirt, and a tan cardigan appears to direct the crowd.
00:00:51 Footage filmed from the steps of City Hall of a crowd gathered on the sidewalk. Approximately a dozen uniformed and helmeted police officers walk down the steps into the crowd.
00:01:02 Footage of the crowd walking west on Broad Street away from City Hall. Uniformed officers wearing helmets and carrying batons walk at the back of the crowd.
00:01:23 Footage of the crowd walking west on what appears to be Broad Street. Some individuals hold a closed fist salute up to an individual filming on the other side, this appears to be the individual filming reel #05 of this event.
00:01:35 Zoomed in footage of unidentified objects, it appears the camera continued rolling while not being operated.
00:01:45 Footage ends.
Event Description
Held on October 15, 1969, the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam was a massive demonstration and teach-in across the United States against the country's involvement in the Vietnam War. A large Moratorium March in Washington, D.C. was held a month later on November 15, 1969 (Wikipedia). In Richmond, police estimated approximately 2,500 individuals joined the protest. Others had the count at some 5,000 in Monroe Park. The morning of October 15, names of those killed in the war were read at the University of Richmond, followed by a similar event at the capitol in the afternoon (The Collegian, October 17, 1969). Discussions were had in Monroe Park before groups marched downtown to the Virginia State Capitol. Marchers wore black arm bands and peace signs. At noon, there was a "folk mass" at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart. Named speakers included Herman Schmidt, Charles McLeod (mispelled McCloud in the RTD), Reverend James G. Carpenter, Dr. James H. Smiley, and Dr. Richard Lodge. Richmond Mayor Philip J. Bagley was quoted as stating he held the protestors "in utter contempt" (Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 16, 1969). Groups represented included Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) and Richmond Mobilization Committee Against the War in Vietnam (The Commonwealth Times, October 17, 1969). After the protest ended at the capitol, some individuals returned to Monroe Park, while another contingent marched to City Hall. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reported the crowd was "a mixture of welfare recipients and Virginia Union University students". Mayor Bagley agreed to meet with Loretta Johnson, chairperson of a local welfare rights group and member of the National Welfare Rights Organization (NWRO), as "an individual," but she preferred to meet in an official capacity and refused Bagley's invitation. A number of protestors entered the building and started a sit-in in front of the Mayor's office, and Bagley told Police Chief Frank S. Duling to "clear the building". When some 100 individuals did not leave, police called in reinforcements, including two dozen officers in helmets holding batons. When they arrived, the crowd inside left the building. The crowd tried to reform at Monroe Park, but few individuals arrived. The RTD does not name the welfare rights organization, but it was likely the Virginia Welfare Rights Organization (VWRO). The paper states this was the third day the group had visited City Hall in order to call for increased welfare payments (Richmond Times-Dispatch, October 16, 1969).
Runtime
00:03:44
Corporate Name Subject
Students for a Democratic Society (1969-1974); National Welfare Rights Organization (U.S.)
Topical Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Draft resisters; Anti-war demonstrations; Demonstrations; Crowds; Student movements; Student protesters; Students--Political activity; Signs and signboards; Public welfare; Welfare rights movement; 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
Moratorium Day in Richmond Film Reel #06, 1969 October 15
File Name
VCU_M571_057.mp4