The media also covered other aspects of the war. The devastating effects which Agent Orange, napalm and blanket bombing had on the environment were also shown through the media. However the effect of these methods did not help the US troops in Vietnam. They caused massive destruction to the country, but they weren’t effective in killing the VC troops. This had a very negative outcome. Soldiers and the US public realised that despite all of their technology, money and military support, they would not be able to win the war.
The incident at My Lai in March 1968 played a major role in decreasing the support for the war. At My Lai, a frustrated platoon opened fire on innocent villagers believing that they were harbouring VC troops. This carnage was very publicised by the press even though other atrocities had happened before. However this wasn’t the only incident of this nature. Other ones were not as publicised as My Lai. The trials of the crimes were also given a lot of public exposure. This all had a large impact on society. People’s attitudes began to transform. They began to join peace movement groups and protests.
All kinds of people joined peace protests for different reasons. Black people opposed it because they felt exploited by the draft deferment system. Some veterans opposed it because they thought that the war was being fought needlessly. However the majority of the opposition to the war were students from universities and colleges around the USA. Many students avoided the draft by studying abroad.
However many students were punished for refusing to join the army. By 1967, people from all walks of life were joining the peace movement. Movie stars and singers were supporting peace in Vietnam and songs and movies were being written. By this time, thousands of people were participating in the mass demonstrations which were taking place all over the country. These demonstrations were often met by US troops and many battles were fought between them and the protesters.
In May 1970, at Ohio University, 3000 students staged a protest which ended in four students being shot dead, and 9 wounded by the National Guard. Despite tragedies like in Ohio, thousands of people carried on with their protests.
Opinion polls in 1967 show that 57% of the US population wanted the USA to pull out of the war. However this still meant that 43% of the people wanted the war to continue. Many people believed that the war should be fought to show America’s strength against communism.
Regardless of all the protests and demonstrations, nothing changed in Vietnam. The war still continued.
