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A significant generational gap, anti-war demonstrations on college campuses, and the upcoming Chicago Democratic convention draw parallels between the current protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza and the Vietnam War era. This Saturday marks the 54th anniversary of the Kent State University shooting, a tragic event where Ohio National Guard troops, deployed to suppress campus protests, shot 13 students, resulting in four deaths and sparking nationwide unrest.
While there are similarities, the recent campus protests against Israel's actions differ in scale and motivation compared to those of the past. Both student demographics and the Democratic Party have evolved since then. However, given the close contest between incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and Republican Donald Trump, these protests could have political ramifications.
In 1970, the Vietnam War had been ongoing for five years, with President Richard Nixon announcing its expansion into Cambodia. By the end of the year, almost 1.8 million young American men had been enlisted, and nearly 30,000 had died.
Unlike the Vietnam War era, there are no U.S. troops directly involved in the conflict in Gaza, but many U.S. citizens have lost family members there. The recent Israeli assault on Gaza was triggered by an attack by Hamas militants on October 7, resulting in 1,200 deaths and 253 hostages according to Hamas. Palestinian medics report that the subsequent Israeli bombardment has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians and displaced the majority of Gaza's 2.3 million residents.
Across the U.S., students at numerous schools have rallied against Israel's actions, demanding that institutions cease business with companies supporting the war. Police have arrested over 2,000 protesters.
SHIFT IN SUPPORT FOR THE WAR
The mounting casualties in Gaza and the extensive destruction have shifted public opinion, with support for Israel's military actions dropping from 50% in a November Gallup poll to 36% by late March.
Despite signing legislation to provide $14 billion in additional aid to Israel last month, Biden has faced increasing criticism for his handling of the crisis, leading to hundreds of thousands of voters casting "uncommitted ballots" in recent Democratic primaries to express their discontent. Senator Bernie Sanders has drawn parallels with Vietnam, recalling former President Lyndon Johnson's decision not to seek re-election in 1968 amidst mounting dissent over the Vietnam War.
INTENSITY AND DIVERSITY
By 1970, the protests had intensified, with some rallies attracting tens and even hundreds of thousands of people, particularly affected by the draft. Some protests turned violent, unlike the mostly peaceful demonstrations seen so far in response to Israel's actions in Gaza.
Following the Kent State shootings, anti-war protests spread across the U.S. and even internationally, with 100,000 people gathering in Melbourne, Australia, and nearly 100,000 in Washington, DC.
While the protests were more racially and gender-diverse in 1970 compared to earlier years, today's campuses are even more diverse. Women now outnumber men on college campuses, and the student population is more ethnically varied, reflecting an intersectional generation leading various social movements.
DIVISIONS AMONG DEMOCRATS
Sharp generational divides, reminiscent of those during the Vietnam era, persist within the Democratic Party. Democratic strategist James Carville, 79, has cautioned protesters, warning that their actions could aid Trump's re-election by dividing the party.
A recent YouGov poll showed that 53% of adults felt that college administrators' decision to suspend and expel some pro-Palestinian protesters was either "about right" or "not harsh enough." This sentiment was even stronger among those aged 65 and older, with 68% agreeing.
The Biden campaign is actively engaging with young voters, starting their efforts earlier than in the previous election cycle. Biden has also garnered the support of 15 youth vote groups, who plan to hire hundreds of organizers and mobilize hundreds of thousands of volunteers.
MEDIA INFLUENCE AND CONVENTION PREPARATIONS
Media coverage played a crucial role in shaping opinions during the Vietnam War, but today's students are witnessing the Gaza conflict in real-time through social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, which constantly provide updates and images.
The upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August may become a focal point for these divisions, though there will be fewer opportunities for challenges to Biden within the convention than in 1968, when internal dissent was more prevalent. The convention also comes in the wake of the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, which further divided the nation during that tumultuous time.
Governor J.B. Pritzker and law enforcement agencies are preparing for potential protests during the convention, highlighting the continuing importance of peaceful protest in American democracy.