Vietnam: A National Moratorium to halt business as usual Accession Number: ARTV03186

Description

A poster advertising the May 1970 Moratorium and calling for the withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam and the repeal of the National Service Act. The Vietnam Moratorium Campaigns were a result of a conference held in Canberra in November 1969 to plan a series of protests based on the American Moratorium model. There were three Moratorium campaigns in Australia from 1970-1. The Moratorium was the first truly mass movement of the protest against the Vietnam War. Until 1969 the protest had been uncoordinated in a national sense and rallies had been reasonably small in size, whereas the Moratorium mobilised the support of hundreds of thousands. It also succeeded in gaining more publicity in its first six months than had been achieved by the protest movement between 1965 and 1969.

This poster was likely created for the first and largest of the Moratoria, which was held on 8 May 1970, with an estimated turnout of over 200,000 across Australia. The protests were largely organised by two groups in Australia: the Vietnam Moratorium Campaign (VMC), and the Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament (CICD).

The aims of the first campaign were the immediate withdrawal of Australian troops from Vietnam and repeal of the National Service Act. The Moratorium stated that all actions taken by its members and supporters should be of a non-violent nature and this philosophy was extended throughout Australia through various state committees and others.

The 8 May 1970 Moratorium in Australia came just four days after the Kent State Shootings in Ohio. At these protests to the Vietnam War, armed members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed protestors leaving 4 dead and 9 injured.

Throughout its existence, the Moratorium movement identified itself by this sunburst symbol, which came to be used not only by the Moratorium but also by other organisations and groups which supported its aims. The sunburst symbol was chosen by the Moratorium conveners as a striking and memorable design, easily visible in crowds, an important criterion for an identifying badge. Moratorium posters were usually printed in strong colours, often orange and blue or vibrant red and black.

This poster follows this tradition form, discussing the repeal of the National Service Act, calling for business to be halted as an act in protest.

Details

Conflicts

• Vietnam, 1962-1975

Places

• New South Wales
• Vietnam

Tags

• Legislation
• Protest movements