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Title on Reel (transcribed from original)
15 May 70, Anti-Viet Nam in Monroe Park, Police I.D.
Date Created
1970-05-15
Reel Format
16mm
Reel Description
This reel contains footage of individuals gathering in Monroe Park on May 15, 1970 for a protest against the ongoing war in Vietnam. It begins with footage of individuals gathered in downtown Richmond, it is unclear if this gathering is associated with the rest of the footage. It also contains footage of individuals gathering at the Checkers House in Monroe Park, and the crowd leaving the park. This appears to be a group of majority white participants.
Timestamp Description
00:00:10 Footage begins. Footage of a partially obscured building. It appears that the camera was running while being transported.
00:00:13 Footage of approximately six individuals standing on the sidewalk in downtown Richmond, likely the corner of Main Street and 12th or 13th Street, speaking with one another. Two hold stacks of paper.
00:00:21 Footage of the same group filmed from the other side.
00:00:39 Footage of members of the previous group handing papers to pedestrians and speaking with them.
00:00:51 Footage of the United States of America flag flying on a flagpole at the top of a multi-story building in downtown Richmond.
00:00:57 Footage of members of the previous group handing papers to pedestrians and speaking with them. One individual waves at the camera.
00:01:09 Footage of approximately two dozen individuals gathered in Monroe Park. In the center, two individuals hold three Viet Cong/National Liberation Front of South Vietnam flags (a flag with a red stripe on top, a blue stripe on the bottom, and a gold star in the center).
00:01:21 Multiple clips of footage of the crowd gathering at Monroe Park near the Checkers House. Some individuals wear white arm bands on either their left or right arm. The armbands read "Marshal".
00:02:13 Footage of the crowd leaving Monroe Park via the entrance at the corner of Belvidere Street and Franklin Street, filmed from across the street. Vehicles drive between the crowd and the camera. The camera pans right to show more of the marchers. The Viet Cong flags and an inverted United States of America flag are held by individuals towards the front of the crowd, including a young child. An individual in khaki pants, a red shirt and tie, and a dark green blazer stands at the corner watching the marchers.
00:02:25 Marchers begin crossing Belvidere Street at Franklin Street.
00:02:52 Multiple clips of marchers crossing Belvidere Street. Two individuals cross the street holding a banner which reads "Randolph-Macon Strike" with a red fist drawn on it. Some individuals wear red armbands. Some individuals hold up closed fist salutes towards the camera.
00:03:43 Footage ends.
Event Description
On May 15, 1970, several hundred individuals gathered at the Virginia State Capitol Square to protest the ongoing war in Vietnam. The march was organized by the Student Peace Coordinating Committee. Before the gathering, some 300-400 individuals marched from Monroe Park to the capitol. Some carried Viet Cong/National Liberation Front flags, others carried inverted United States of America flags. Two incidents occurred during the march where observers grabbed flags from protestors. At the capitol, the crowd was mostly populated by students from Virginia colleges and universities, estimates put the crowd between 400 and 800 individuals. Many speakers urged the crowd to work "through the political process and peaceful demonstrations to expand opposition to the war". Named speakers included Reverend Curtis Harris, Norm Ornstine, Berry Rundquist, Yippie Mike Smith (member of the Oakland Seven). Ornstine and Rundquist voiced support for the McGovern-Hatfield Amendment (Wikipedia). According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, at the height of the rally, some 200-300 "business and professional men and office workers" encircled the rally, many wearing United States of America flag pins. Two individuals from the Nixon administration--Malcolm Roberts and Dave Fronhmayer--were listed on the program but declined to speak (Richmond Times-Dispatch, May 16, 1970).
Runtime
00:04:05
Topical Subject
Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements; Anti-war demonstrations; Demonstrations; Crowds; Student movements; Student protesters; Students--Political activity; Signs and signboards; Public welfare; Welfare rights movement; Anti-poverty movements; 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
National Priorities Day Protest in Richmond Film Reel #01, 1970 May 15
File Name
VCU_M571_162.mp4