Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke out against the war in Vietnam at the University of California, Berkley on May 1967.
Prior to this speech Dr. King had been an advocate for civil rights for
African Americans. Although he was still an advocate Dr. King felt that as a pastor he
needed to speak out against the mistreatment of the Vietnamese people from a moral standpoint.
Dr. King discusses how the war is sending the poor and the
African American people to fight the war. He also states that
both the African Americans and the white Americans are expected to
fight together in Viet Nam but are unable to share the same schools
or eat at the same restaurant here in America.
Dr King discusses Viet Nam's history of its fight for independence
since 1945. He states that America didn't recognize Viet Nam's
request for independence. He goes on to state that we supported the French instead of recognizing the Vietnamese government. Dr. King goes on to talk about how the American government wouldn't allow elections because they believed that Ho Chi MInh would unite the country. He also spoke against America's putting Diem in power.
Dr. King made the point that the US was not percieved as Viet Nam's saviors but as their enimies. He gave the example of women and children being killed. He used the term concentration camps to discribe the fortified hamlets.
Dr. King brings the argument that the Americans created the NLF by allowing Diem to gain power in the South. He feels that the US should listen to North Vietnam's perspective. Dr. King states that the US has caused the mistrust between the two countries because of the bombing in Vietnam and the US not recognizing Ho Chi Minh as Vietnam's leader.
Dr. King calls for a halt to the war. He has five suggestions
"1. End all bombing in North and South Vietnam.
2. Declare a unilateral cease-fire in the hope that such action will create the atmosphere for negotiation.
3. Take immediate steps to prevent other battlegrounds in Southeast Asia by curtailing our miilitary build-up in Thailand and our interference in laos.
4. Realistically accept the fact that the National Liberation Front has substantial support in South Vietnam and must thereby play a role in any meaningful negotiations and in any future Vietnam government.
5. Set a date on which we will remove all remove all foreign troops from Vietnam in accordance with the 1954 Geneva Agreement" (King 212).
Dr. King reminds his listeners that America is one of the richest countries in the world and we have a responsibility to set a moral precedent. He states the best defense of Communism is to abolish poverty. If everyone is treated equally than there is no need for Communism to thrive. He states that peaceful action will stop Communism.
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