"Make Love, Not War" posters have resurfaced recently as
thousands of Americans have participated in anti-war demonstrations
against war in Iraq. Gallup polling since Vietnam has attempted to
assess Americans' participation in anti-war protests, and also
Americans' views on the protests themselves. Only a very small
percentage of Americans say they have participated in protests.
Americans recognize the right of people to protest, but significant
numbers (sometimes a majority) would prefer there be no protests
during wars involving U.S. troops.
The Vietnam Era
The 1960s was a time of social upheaval in America. Although
minor protests against U.S. intervention in Vietnam occurred in
1963, the anti-war movement did not begin to swell until 1965, when
President Lyndon Johnson ordered considerable U.S. military
intervention and continual bombing of North Vietnam. In April 1965,
the first large-scale march on Washington drew 15,000 to 25,000
people to the capital. In 1967, Gallup asked Americans if they had
ever participated in a peace rally on Vietnam; 99% said they had
not. When those who had not participated were asked if they would
like to participate if such a rally was organized in their
area, 9% said yes.
The 1968 Democratic convention convened in Chicago at the height
of unrest over the war in Vietnam. War protesters and 12,000 police
officers clashed. More than 500 people were arrested and several
hundred police officers and demonstrators were injured. When asked
if they "approved or disapproved of the way the Chicago police
dealt with the young people who were registering their protest
against the Vietnam War," 56% of Americans approved, 31%
disapproved, and 13% had no opinion.
By October 1969, as anti-war fever continued, more than 2
million people participated in nationally coordinated Vietnam
moratorium protests.
In March 1990, Gallup asked the public if it wished it had made
a stronger effort to protest or demonstrate against the war in
Vietnam. Twenty-five percent of those polled wished they had, while
most (67%) did not. The same poll found Americans divided in their
evaluations of Vietnam War protesters -- 39% said they had a
favorable opinion and 39% had an unfavorable opinion.
The Gulf Wars
It had been nearly 20 years since the last major war protests
when America led an attack on Iraq in 1991. Polling conducted at
the outset of the Persian Gulf War showed that Americans preferred
that there be no protests, but would stop short of a ban that
intruded on others' rights. A January 1991 Gallup Poll found a
majority of Americans, 57%, saying people who opposed military
action should stop the protests now that the war had begun, while
38% said they should continue to protest during the war. However,
when the free speech issue was raised in a question asked in the
same poll, only 23% preferred a ban on "protests in order to
support the United States military operation," while 66% said the
"government should permit continued anti-war protests under the
free-speech guarantees of the Constitution." A subsequent poll,
conducted Jan. 23-26 1991, underscored Americans' preference
against anti-war protests, 34% said it was "a good thing that those
who disagree with the government are speaking out," while 63% said
it was "a bad thing for Americans to be demonstrating against the
war when U.S. troops are fighting overseas."
Gallup asked Americans in February 1991 if they had participated
in a demonstration for or against the war with Iraq. Just 5% had
participated and 95% had not, somewhat higher than observed in the
earlier stages of the Vietnam War.
The long build-up to the current war with Iraq gave potential
protesters time to organize peace rallies before the bombs began
falling. In addition, the fact that Web-based communication was not
as readily available during the first Gulf War has made planning
and spreading the word about peace demonstrations much easier.
In January 2003, 70% of Americans told Gallup they think it is
OK to protest -- regardless of whether they agree or disagree with
the protesters -- and just 26% do not think protesting is OK.
However, a majority of Americans, 58%, said they disagreed with the
protesters at that time.
Now that the war has started, those views have changed somewhat,
becoming slightly less favorable to protesters. A March 22-23
CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll shows 69% of Americans disagree
with the protesters (up from 58% in January). A majority, 57%,
still says it is OK for them to be protesting, but this is down
from 70% in January. Forty-one percent of Americans do not think
the protesters should be demonstrating.
Bottom Line
Gallup polling since the Vietnam War shows a rather low rate of
participation among Americans in anti-war protests. Many Americans
would prefer there be no protests, especially once war has begun.
But at the same time, most recognize the free speech rights of
those who oppose the government's action.
