“Why Lose When You Can Win?” Scenes From a Pro-Vietnam War Rally 45 Years Ago

A photographer digs up his images of a April 1970 pro-war protest at the Washington Monument.

Fundamentalist demonstrators march at the Washington Monument in support of the Vietnam War in 1970. Tom Norpell

Get your news from a source that’s not owned and controlled by oligarchs. Sign up for the free Mother Jones Daily.


In April 1970, Tom Norpell was an aspiring photojournalist working as a darkroom technician in Washington, D.C. After hearing about a rally in support of US involvement in the Vietnam War, he borrowed his brother’s camera and headed to the Washington Monument with six rolls of film.

The pro-war protest held on Wednesday April 8, 1970, Norpell recalls, “was neither the largest pro-war rally nor one that represented the majority of Americans who supported the war.” The rally was organized by a fundamentalist coalition, though neo-Nazis and other extreme right-wingers also showed up, as did pro-peace counterprotesters. Nonetheless, “For marchers fed up with antiwar protests dominating the evening news, it was their moment in the sun.”

All photographs by Tom Norpell.

Political and religious zeal commingled at the rally, captured by this man’s button, “In This Sign Conquer.”
 
 

 

 

A man shelters himself from the rain during the rally.
 

 

A resting child looks at Norpell with suspicion.
 

 

An American Nazi Party member with a copy of White Power, “the newspaper of White Revolution.”
 

Armband-wearing members of the now-defunct National States Rights Party march with standards.
 

 

A man is restrained as he prepares to take a swing at an antiwar protester.
 

A World War II veteran talks with an antiwar counterprotester.
 

 

 

 

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

payment methods

We Recommend

Latest

Sign up for our free newsletter

Subscribe to the Mother Jones Daily to have our top stories delivered directly to your inbox.

Get our award-winning magazine

Save big on a full year of investigations, ideas, and insights.

Subscribe

Support our journalism

Help Mother Jones' reporters dig deep with a tax-deductible donation.

Donate