What tactics did activists use in the late 1960s and 1970s?
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It was common for activists to stage demonstrations or organized actions. What were these demonstrations like? What were the messages? Were they violent or nonviolent?
Activists in the late 1960s and 1970s used a variety of tactics to promote social, political, and cultural change. Some of these tactics included:
1. Civil disobedience: Activists intentionally violated laws as a form of protest. For example, many civil rights activists participated in sit-ins at segregated restaurants, while anti-war activists burned draft cards.
2. Demonstrations: Activists organized marches, rallies, and protests to raise awareness of social and political issues. Some famous demonstrations from this time include the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963 and protests against the Vietnam War.
3. Boycotts: Activists organized boycotts of businesses and institutions that they felt were discriminatory or unethical. For example, the United Farm Workers organized a boycott of grapes to protest the mistreatment of farm laborers.
4. Creative resistance: Some activists used creative tactics to draw attention to their cause. For example, members of the Women's Liberation movement staged a theatrical protest at the 1968 Miss America pageant, throwing bras and other "oppressive" items into a "freedom trash can."
The messages of these demonstrations varied depending on the issue being protested. Civil rights activists demanded equality, anti-war activists demanded an end to the Vietnam War, and feminist activists demanded greater rights for women. Most of these demonstrations were nonviolent, although there were some instances of violence, especially around the civil rights movement. Overall, these tactics were successful in raising awareness of social and political issues and pushing for change.