Mobilizer was the newsletter of the Spring Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam (later “National,”1966-67), a broad-based coalition opposing the war in Vietnam, that organized several antiwar and anti-draft rallies and demonstrations, including organizing attendance at the large April 1967 New York city march.
The group was initially headed by long-time labor and peace activist A. J. Muste. However, Muste died in 1967 before the April mass march took place.
The coalition broadened its leadership by adding Cleveland Robinson, a labor leader from District 65 of the Wholesale, Retail, and Department Store Workers Union, AFL-CIO, Ralph Abernathy of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and Dagmar Wilson of Women’s Strike for Peace. They joined long-time peace activists Dave Dellinger, Robert Greenblatt, Sidney Peck and Edward Keating. James Bevel from SCLC was chosen as national director.
The group sought permanence by replacing its name “Spring” with “National” and organized the large October 1967 March on the Pentagon and April 1968 protests against the draft, among other activities.
A split in the antiwar movement occurred later in 1968 over whether to focus on a single demand (End the War) or to include social justice demands as well. Differences also included whether to condone civil disobedience as a tactic.
These two tendencies were later reflected as the National Peace Action Coalition and the 1969-70 New Mobilization Committee to End the War in Vietnam. The New Mobilization Committee published “The New Mobilizer.
Later that year the coalition reconstituted that year as the People’s Coalition for Peace and Justice. While both coalitions reflected a broad base and many disparate organizations and individuals, the old left Trotskyist Social Workers Party supported NPAC while the Communist Party supported New Mobilization/PCPJ.
The People’s Coalition published “Moving Together.”
Mobilizer:
Vol. 1 No. 1 – December 19, 1966 - washingtonareaspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1966-1...
Vol. 1 No. 2 – February 6, 1967 - washingtonareaspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1967-0...
Vol. 1 No. 3 – March 18, 1967 - washingtonareaspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/1967-0...
The New Mobilizer –
washingtonareaspark.com/periodicals/#newmob
Movin’ Together –
washingtonareaspark.com/periodicals/#movin
For other national alternative periodicals, see, flic.kr/s/aHsmGKyU3X
Donated by Craig Simpson
