Vietnam Veteran Medal Throwing Protest

On April 23, 1971 Vietnam Veterans Against the War staged what was arguably "one of the most dramatic and influential events of the antiwar movement" as hundreds of Vietnam veterans, dressed in combat fatigues and well worn uniforms, stepped up, and angrily, one after another for three straight hours, hurled their military medals, ribbons, discharge papers, and even a cane, onto the steps of the U.S. Capitol. Many of them paused to speak, expressing sentiments ranging from "I pray that time will forgive me and my brothers for what we did" to "I got a purple heart and I hope I get another one fighting these mother-fuckers."^[1]: p.113

There has never been an antiwar or anti-government protest anything like this in the U.S. before or since.^[2] The very soldiers who had been sent to fight were back home—many bearing the physical and mental wounds of war, some riding in wheelchairs—at the doorsteps of the government which sent them, testifying to what they had witnessed and come to understand, saying the war was wrong; demanding it end.^[1]: p.116 An editorial in the Akron Beacon Journal called the veterans "men of conscience" and said, of "all the demonstrations" against the war, "none has had greater impact". It continued, arguing that veteran testimony "must inevitably carry more weight than the protests or endorsements of those who have never seen this war firsthand."^[2] A member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a patriotic organization which was holding its annual convention in Washington that week, approached one of the protesting veterans and said, "'Son, I don't think what you're doing is good for the troops.'" The veteran replied: "'Lady, we are the troops.'"^{[3]: p.104 [4]: p.97}