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Title on Reel (transcribed from original)
Anti draft [sic] protest, 3-19-70
Date Created
1970-03-19
Reel Format
16mm
Reel Description
This reel contains footage of the daytime picket at the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station at 11th and Main Streets. Most footage is of the picket, showing individuals walking in a large oval on the sidewalk. Some building workers are seen--potentially security guards and others. The footage is filmed from across the street and above. This appears to be a group of majority white participants.
Timestamp Description
00:00:12 Footage begins. Footage of approximately ten individuals who are a part of the demonstration walking in an oval picket on the sidewalks outside of the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station building. On the right of the frame, and individual films the picket. Five individuals either in suits or police or military uniform stand at the top of the steps of the building. Individuals are seen entering the building.
00:00:55 Footage of two individuals walking from right to left of frame past the Travelers Building towards the picket. A third individual leans against the building doorway. Four individuals from the picket pass them going in the other direction.
00:01:01 Footage cuts to the same two individuals walking past two individuals in police or military uniform standing in the alley to the right of the Entrance Station building.
00:01:02 Footage of two these two individuals attempting to enter the building, and being stopped at the door by an individual in military uniform. After a few seconds, they are able to enter.
00:01:07 Zoomed out footage of the picket, with most of the Entrance Station building visible up to the second floor. "United States Parcel Post" is carved into the facade of the building. The camera pans up the building.
00:01:24 Zoomed in footage of the picketers. Individuals carry signs reading: "Hell No, We Won't Go!", "Resist Illegitimate Authority", "Northern Virginia Resistance", "No More Lives For Your Lousy Wars", and a sign with an American flag, a peace symbol, and the words "How Many More."
00:02:04 Footage of the picket with two individuals in trench coats standing on the building steps watching the picket.
00:02:08 Footage of four individuals walking past the Travelers Building towards the picket, one holds a rolled sign. They walk past a uniformed police officer on horseback, and meet up with a fifth individual.
00:02:13 Footage of the picket. More signs are visible: "Don't Kill For the Flag--Refuse to Go" and "Close State Draft Headquarters". Several picketers raise a closed fist salute. One picketer puts their open hands to the sides of their head like moose antlers, gesturing towards the camera.
00:02:44 Footage of two uniformed police or military officers standing in the alley next to the Entrance Station building, observing picketers. Footage pans back to the picket.
00:03:56 Footage ends.
Event Description
On March 19, 1970, a multi-level protest organized by the VCU Radical Student Union consisted of a picket of the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station at 11th and Main Streets, the State Selective Service headquarters at the Federal Office Building on 8th and Marshall Streets, and at Monroe Park. This was part of a nationwide week-long protest organized by the group New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. A group of approximately 25-30 individual picketed the entrance of the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station, and one VCU student was arrested for "breach of the peace" (Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 20, 1970) and/or "failure to move" (Commonwealth Times, March 20, 1970). Around 12PM, some 200 individuals participated in a rally at Monroe Park, with speakers including recorder of the Radical Student Union Fred Shorter, draft counselor Page Morris, the Reverend ProHuman Williams, and Phyllis Conclin. At 12:30PM some 150 students marched to the Federal Building and held a 55-minute sit-in in the south lobby to protest the draft. Four demonstrators met with Virginia State Director of Selective Service Capt. Charles L. Kessler and two federal marshals, the press was not admitted. Students from VCU and Union Theological Seminary were among the participants.
Runtime
00:04:14
Note
The order of the eight reels from this day of protests was determined by the Digital Initiatives Librarian using newspaper reports from the day, as well as other indicators of time in the footage. It may not be accurate to the order the footage was filmed in.
Corporate Name Subject
Virginia Commonwealth University; Union Theological Seminary and Presbyterian School of Christian Education
Topical Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Draft resisters; Anti-war demonstrations; Demonstrations; Crowds; United States--Armed Forces--Recruiting, enlistment, etc.; Draft; Draft resisters; Draft registration; Student movements; Student protesters; Students--Political activity; Signs and signboards; Mounted police; Police horses; Animals in police work; 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
Anti-Draft Protest in Richmond Film Reel #04, 1970 March 19
File Name
VCU_M571_153.mp4