Op-Ed: The year July Fourth was protested

July 4, 1968 The New York Times headline reads: It’s the Fourth of July, and That’s an occasion for a Barbecue. The events of July 4,1968 illustrated through The New York Times gave a glance into a world frustrated with the Vietnam war, politics and the state of American society. That year traditional American values and celebrations weren't marked by many parades and patriotism, but with questioning and a distrust of the government’s actions which led to violence ensuing and protests.

At the onset of summer that year, Gallup, an American analytics and advisory company founded by George Gallup known for its public opinion polls conducted worldwide, indicated that about 36 percent of Americans believed that the country had a “sick society.”  With the back-to-back assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. in April and Robert Kennedy in June and the war, Martin Luther King Jr. stated in his “mountaintop” speech “Trouble is in the land; confusion all around." 

A poll earlier in the year had found that Americans were closely divided on the issue of the Vietnam War, which by the end of 1967, had seen thousands of servicemen lose their lives. In that same poll, 48 percent believed the war was a mistake while 40 percent believed it wasn’t. Continuing through to summer, the poll indicated that the number of freethinkers increased to 53 percent, while 35 percent stood firm to their convictions that the war was justified.

Frustration with the war, politics and the state of American society made for a gloomy July Fourth in many areas of the country and abroad. According to the Smithsonian Magazine, New York City that year was relatively quiet aside from small observances. There was no official city celebration, leaving the streets of New York City “deserted.”

D.C. was met with protestors who had set out on a six week political demonstration on the National Mall to remedy the employment and housing issues of America’s diverse impoverished population which ended withThirty -three protestors being arrested.  

Foreign countries used the Fourth that year to express their annoyance with anti-war protests. Melbourne, Australia had about 2,000 citizens who gathered in front of the U.S. Consulate and smashed the windows, they then painted the building’s steps red and tore down the American flag.

Unlike those expressing their frustration with protests, Stockholm, Sweden held an anti-war parade as did Brisbane, Australia. There were still many areas here in America where festivities such as ball games, parades and fireworks were still held and enjoyed as if unaffected by the remaining effects of 1968.  

Remembering this excerpt from The Declaration of Independence. -”That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.”

“When it is dark enough, can you see the stars? This Fourth, let Freedom Ring.