Organizing Asian America

“The Whole World is Watching.” DNC 1968 Political Ed.

August 20, 2024 • By 18MR Staff

All eyes are on the DNC in Chicago right now. Here’s what happened at the 1968 Chicago DNC as anti-Vietnam War activists faced down police and a political party that refused to hear their demands…

What is the 1968 DNC?

The 1968 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois where over 15,000 activists took the streets to protest policies that impacted their communities at home and abroad, with the main demand calling for an end to the Vietnam War. These protests highlighted the growing disconnect between the political establishment and the public and played a role in shaping American activism, inspiring new movements and reinforcing the importance of demanding justice and accountability from those in power.

Events Leading Up to the DNC

The DNC of 1968 took place during a transformative political moment marked by police killings, racial injustice, a lack of political representation, and a brutal war.

  • During the “Long Hot Summer of 67” more than 100 Black communities rose up against urban poverty, disinvestment, and police violence.
  • In January 1968, the Tet Offensive became a pivotal point in the Vietnam War that turned popular sentiment against the war and left many Americans disillusioned with US military and political leadership. 
  • Just four months before the DNC, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in Memphis, TN sparking nearly 200 mass uprisings across the nation.
    • Poor People’s Campaign, launched by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and led by Dr. King before his assassination, aimed to address economic justice and poverty in the U.S.

1968 Demands 

The protests, fueled by opposition to the Vietnam War, also amplified demands for social justice—civil rights, economic justice, gender equality and more. Activists pushed the Democratic Party to adopt an anti-war platform, take stronger stances on civil rights, and address poverty, inequality, and freedom of expression.

Organizations protesting at the 1968 DNC included:

  • National Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (MOBE)
  • Students for a Democratic Society
  • Yippies Youth International Party,
  • Women’s Strike for Peace (WSP) 
  • Southern Christian Leadership Conference

“I went because we were for human rights and against this damn war. We, the black people, shouldn’t have to be fighting this war, dying in Vietnam, if this country isn’t recognizing our civil, democratic, human rights.”

– Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party and co-defendant in the Chicago 8 trial where he was charged with conspiring to incite a riot at the DNC

Just months after the city was rocked by MLK assassination protests, Chicago’s Mayor Daley hammered down on a “law and order” approach to the DNC. Daley villainized protesters, denied them permits to demonstrate, and mobilized thousands of police officers, National Guard members, and Army soldiers. [link, link]. 

Police indiscriminately attacked peaceful protesters and the press, many of whom were there with video cameras that enabled them to document the police brutality. It was not until footage of police brutality was broadcast on mainstream media that white Americans became more aware of systemic violence [link, link].

Impact on Asian American Movement + Organizing (before and after DNC) 

“It was no accident that Asian America was born at the peak of the Vietnam War,” says author Karen Ishizuka. Source: Densho


The Vietnam War saw spikes in anti-Asian racism and Asian Americans were key supporters of the anti-war movement. The anti-war protests at the DNC resonated deeply within the Asian American community, fostering a sense of solidarity with other marginalized groups opposing U.S. imperialism and militarism.

Asian Americans during this time connected the racist and colonialist implications of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam to the long history of violence perpetrated against Asian peoples throughout U.S. history. 

Alongside Black, Indigenous, and Latinx students, Asian Americans helped form the Third World Liberation Front at SF State University in 1968 (and at UC Berkeley in 1969) to strike for fair representation and the founding of Ethnic Studies. 

This period saw the emergence of the Asian American identity as a political and cultural force, with activists drawing parallels and inspiration from other communities of color, particularly Black liberation movements. 

  • In 1968, Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee coined the term ‘Asian American’ and founded the Asian American Political Alliance in Berkeley
  • The AAPA develops close ties with the Black Panther Party and the Red Guard, an Asian-American organization modeled after the Panthers 
  • Milton Meyer & Co, owner of the International Hotel in San Francisco’s Manilatown, applied to demolish the building in 1968, mobilizing Asian Americans to prevent the eviction of its elderly Asian residents.

REFLECTIONS

The 1968 DNC protests were driven by a coalition of anti-war activists, civil rights groups, and other social justice movements, all united by a deep dissatisfaction with the status quo and a desire for meaningful change. This week, the DNC is back in Chicago. Almost 60 years later, thousands of protesters are again flooding the city to demand an end to bombing and brutality, to call for racial justice, jobs, and education. 

Fighting for the world we want to live in is not a momentary effort but a continuous struggle throughout time. See you in the streets!

Background has a blue background collage that features images of protesters with signs like, "America is the black battleground, not Vietnam" and "Unite or perish", a newspaper that says "King Murdered", an image from Martin Luther King Jr.'s funeral. Header reads, "Events that led into the DNC". Copy reads, "The DNC of 1968 took place during a transformative political moment marked by police killings, racial injustice, a lack of political representation, and a brutal war. During the “Long Hot Summer of 67” more than 100 Black communities rose up against urban poverty, disinvestment, and police violence. In January 1968, the Tet Offensive became a pivotal point in the Vietnam War that turned popular sentiment against the war and left many Americans disillusioned with US military and political leadership. Just four months before the DNC, Martin Luther King Jr was assassinated in Memphis, TN sparking nearly 200 mass uprisings across the nation. Poor People’s Campaign, launched by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and led by Dr. King before his assassination, aimed to address economic justice and poverty in the U.S."
Blue background with photos of protesters, some holding signs, "Amnesty for the Chicago Arrester", and an image of Bobby Seale. A large quote on the front says, "“I went because we were for human rights and against this damn war. We, the black people, shouldn’t have to be fighting this war, dying in Vietnam, if this country isn’t recognizing our civil, democratic, human rights.” - Bobby Seale, co-founder of the Black Panther Party and co-defendant in the Chicago 8 trial where he was charged with conspiring to incite a riot at the DNC."
Blue collage background of Asian American protesters, with signs saying, "Kick the USA Aggressors out of Asia!", "Stop! Genocide", "Peace now!", "The time is now withdraw", "Support out Asian sisters in Vietnam". The header reads, "Impact on Asian American movement + organizing", with a large pink quote that reads, " "It was no accident that Asian America was born at the peak of the Vietnam War." -Author Karen Ishizuka". Copy under it says, "The Vietnam War saw spikes in anti-Asian racism and Asian Americans were key supporters of the anti-war movement. The anti-war protests at the DNC resonated deeply within the Asian American community, fostering a sense of solidarity with other marginalized groups opposing U.S. imperialism and militarism. Asian Americans during this time connected the racist and colonialist implications of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam to the long history of violence perpetrated against Asian peoples throughout U.S. history."
Blue collage background with an image of a group of students representing the Third world liberation front walking in a protest," then a newspaper clipping that says, "Third world college proposal", with smaller illegible text and a photo of an African-American man with his fit in the air. On top of that is a photo that says boldly, "SOLIDARITY!", with an image of an East Asian man, an African American man, and a Latinx man. The copy is on top of the newspaper in its own white boxes that read, "Alongside Black, Indigenous, and Latinx students, Asian Americans helped form the Third World Liberation Front at SF State University in 1968 (and at UC Berkeley in 1969) to strike for fair representation and the founding of Ethnic Studies.", "This period saw the emergence of the Asian American identity as a political and cultural force, with activists drawing parallels and inspiration from other communities of color, particularly Black liberation movements.", "In 1968, Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee coined the term ‘Asian American’ and founded the Asian American Political Alliance in Berkeley" and "The AAPA develops close ties with the Black Panther Party and the Red Guard, an Asian-American organization modeled after the Panthers." In front of that is the Black Panther Party logo and Asian American Political Alliance logo.
A blue collage background with images of protesters from the 60s and 70s and to ones in 2024. Some of the contemporary signs read," Power to the People," We are the red line! Netanyahu = War Criminal", "Crush American Imperialism" in English and in Chinese, "Revolution is the main trend in this world today!" from Visual Communications and "Free Palestine" in Arabic and Chinese. The copy reads, "The 1968 DNC protests were driven by a coalition of anti-war activists, civil rights groups, and other social justice movements, all united by a deep dissatisfaction with the status quo and a desire for meaningful change. This week, the DNC is back in Chicago. Almost 60 years later, thousands of protesters are again flooding the city to demand an end to bombing and brutality, to call for racial justice, jobs, and education." and "Fighting for the world we want to live in is not a momentary effort but a continuous struggle throughout time. See you in the streets!"

 Sources

Active Campaigns

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    March on the DNC 2024

    This August, thousands of activists will join the National March on the DNC in Chicago to demand the Democratic Party fight for the rights and liberation of all peoples. This is the time for our movements to gather and demand more from our electeds, including demilitarization of Israel and end to weapons aid.  We know […]
  • Mostly green and black duotone graphic. Text reads Solidarity Fund for March on DNC 2024. Union Park, Chicago. Our community keeps us safe.

    March on DNC Solidarity Fund

    This August, 18 Million Rising is leading a contingent of radical Asian American organizers in Chicago to join the National March on the DNC coalition. We’re calling on our community to keep all of us safe on this journey by contributing to 18MR’s DNC Solidarity Fund. Your donation will help cover expenses such as: We […]
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    Say NO to Zionism and Islamophobia!

    Say NO to Zionism and Islamophobia! 70+ Asian American and allied organizations tell The Asian American Foundation: Drop Jonathan Greenblatt! The ADL is NOT AN ALLY to Asian American communities, organizations, and movements.

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