Quicksilver Times interview of Rennie Davis: 1971

A 10-page, 8 1’2” x 14” transcript of an interview by the Washington, D.C. alternative newspaper Quicksilver Times with anti-Vietnam War leader Rennie Davis goes in depth on the U.S. invasion of Laos, the viewpoint of the Vietnamese opposing the United States and plans for the 1971 Mayday demonstrations.

The interview is undated but took place in March or April 1971 after the Student and Youth Conference on a People’s Peace in February but prior to the Mayday demonstrations.

Mayday demonstrations:

Following six years of opposition to the Vietnam War, including mass demonstrations, campus strikes and civil disobedience, a section of the antiwar movement decided to take a symbolic action of attempting to shut down the government through by non-violent blockading of traffic at key bridges and intersections in Washington, D.C.

The initial planning was done by the US National Student Association and Rennie Davis of the People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice, but the Mayday Collective--a small four-person team--organized a loose-knit group of individuals, collectives and affinity groups across the country that was called the Mayday Tribe that mobilized for the protests.

The civil disobedience was to begin Monday, May 3, 1971. A mass demonstration drawing over 200,000 against the war took place April 24. A two-week long set of protests in the city by Vietnam Veterans Against the War, the People’s Coalition for Peace & Justice and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference resulted in over 1,200 arrests.

Protestors secured a permit for a gathering at West Potomac Park that included a rock concert featuring the Beach Boys, among others, on May 1st. Sleeping was prohibited under the permit, although the protestors could occupy the space continuously.

More than 50,000 people came to the park, many setting up tents awaiting Monday’s civil disobedience. Many relaxed, listening to music, resting or smoking marijuana.

Authorities throughout the area were shocked at the number of people who showed up on Saturday. U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell’s office requested the permit be revoked. President Nixon ordered U.S. troops mobilized as back up to local police.

Local police cleared the camp in the early morning hours Sunday, May 2, but thousands of protestors showed up to block traffic Monday, May 3.

With over 18,000 police and army troops, including the 82nd Airborne, the protestors adapted their tactics and staged “hit and run” efforts to block intersections. Frustrated by the slow progress in clearing demonstrators, police suspended civil liberties and locked up anyone who vaguely resembled a protestor.

Demonstrators and bystanders were taken to makeshift detention facilities at a practice field for the NFL Washington football team, a recreation yard at the D.C. jail and the old Uline Arena. On the unusually cold day, protestors were housed for hours without running water, bathroom facilities, adequate shelter or food.

On May 4th and 5th, police staged mass arrests outside the Justice Department and at the U.S. Capitol.

In all, more than 12,000 people were arrested in the largest mass arrest in U.S. history. The total surpassed the previous record of over 7,000 arrested during the disturbances in Washington, D.C. after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King. Charges were later dropped against nearly everyone involved and thousands later received compensation from the government for their arrest.

U.S. troops continued to be withdrawn from Vietnam and nearly all the U.S. combat forces were removed following the Paris Peace Treaty in 1973. Armed forces of the Democratic Republic of [North] Vietnam and the National Liberation Front defeated the Republic of [South] Vietnam in 1975 leading to unification of the country.

In the end, the Mayday protests disrupted but did not stop government operations. However, the protest and countless other actions against the Indochina Wars helped to change Americans views toward U.S. military intervention against national liberation movements. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be long before the U.S. would embark on new misadventures.

For a PDF of this 8 ½ x 14, 10-page interview, see washingtonareaspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/1971-Q...

For more information and related images, see

Mayday, May 1 - flic.kr/s/aHsk5GV1JM
Mayday, May 2 - flic.kr/s/aHsk5CKtKq
Mayday: May 3 - flic.kr/s/aHsk5bjYqk
Mayday: May 4 - flic.kr/s/aHsk64GugT
Mayday: May 5 - flic.kr/s/aHsk8e3sU3

Original held in the Jeffrey T. Goldthorpe collection.

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Taken on: April 1, 1971

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Sets appears in: • Mayday: May 1, 1971

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