To the editor:

Fifty years ago this Oct. 15, more than 3,500 KU students, faculty and townspeople paraded on Memorial Drive and Jayhawk Boulevard as part of the National Vietnam Moratorium Day. This may have been the largest political march in Lawrence’s history. More than 2 million ordinary citizens, including many professionals and businesspeople, participated in rallies, leafleting, candlelight vigils, teach-ins, etc., in cities and towns all across America. Black arm bands were worn to express opposition to the war. This outpouring of public dissent was unprecedented in American history. Because of to the protests, President Richard Nixon shelved his Operation Duck Hook, which included using tactical nuclear weapons and announced his “Vietnamization” Program on Nov. 1. Lawrencians should be proud that they did their part in ending the Vietnam War.

Clark Coan,

Lawrence