On this day: 15th October

On October 15, 1965, At an anti-war rally in New York City, David J. Miller burned his draft card (example pictured), the first such act to result in arrest under a new amendment to the Selective Service Act.

This event occurred, marking an important moment in the history of Vietnam War protests. Here are some key points about this incident and its context:

Here are some key points about this incident and its context:

1. The burning took place at a rally organized by the Catholic Worker Movement in Manhattan's Union Square.

2. David J. Miller, a 24-year-old pacifist, publicly burned his draft card as an act of protest against the Vietnam War.

3. This act of defiance came just one day after a new law went into effect making it illegal to knowingly destroy or mutilate draft cards.

4. The amendment to the Selective Service Act was passed by Congress on August 31, 1965, and signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson.

5. Miller was arrested by federal agents shortly after burning his draft card and was later convicted, facing up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

6. This incident sparked a wave of similar protests across the country, with draft card burning becoming a symbolic act of resistance against the war.

7. The constitutionality of the new law was challenged, but it was ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court in 1968 in United States v. O'Brien.

8. Draft card burning, along with other forms of protest like sit-ins and teach-ins, became iconic symbols of the anti-war movement during the Vietnam era.

This event represented a turning point in the anti-war movement, escalating the confrontation between protesters and the government. It highlighted the growing dissent against the Vietnam War and the use of the draft system, which would continue to be a contentious issue throughout the conflict.