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Gulf of Tonkin incident—1964

Published Feb 15, 2008 8:41 PM

Workers World has begun its 50th year of publication. Throughout the year, we intend to share with our readers some of the paper’s content over the past half century. On Aug. 2 and 4, 1964, the Pentagon claimed that small Vietnamese boats had fired on the USS Maddox and another destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the coast of Vietnam. Lyndon Johnson used this alleged attack as pretext for ramming a resolution through Congress giving him the power and funds to wage war on Vietnam. Johnson’s own papers later revealed it was a fraud, and then Defense Secretary Robert McNamara admitted in the film “Fog of War” that the whole incident had been phony. Only two of the 100 senators voted against the resolution, Wayne Morse of Oregon and Ernest Gruening of Alaska. The other 98 went along with the ruling-class war drive, as did the entire corporate media. Workers World Party’s youth organization, Youth Against War and Fascism (YAWF), immediately challenged the Tonkin fraud and the war from the beginning. The articles published below on the Tonkin events and the protests were first published in the Aug. 13 and Aug. 27, 1964 issues of Workers World.

Workers World
Aug. 13, 1964

U.S. pushing for wider war in Asia;
Now seeks to provoke China

Last Week’s Bombing of N. Vietnam Has Failed to Terrorize Asian Masses; It Only Steels Them!

The bankers, bosses, generals and admirals finally made the move they have been threatening for months; a massive bombing assault on North Vietnam.

All progressive humanity was shocked by the cynical attack—but it was not surprised.

Back on February 23, the Chicago Daily News reported from Vietnam that there was a “plan to carry the war to Communist North Vietnam” and revealed some of the details of U.S. involvement. Back on February 24, Joseph Alsop said in the New York Herald Tribune that “Air attacks on North Vietnam’s industrial centers . . . are now being weighed.” And Stewart Alsop quoted a high U.S. official in the February 22 Saturday Evening Post as having said: “If the Chinese intervene (after the U.S. bombs North Vietnam—ed.), we would have the heaven-sent opportunity to hit certain targets in China.”

After Admiral Felt, retiring General Harkins and top brass-hat Defense Secretary McNamara had sounded off to the same effect, Johnson himself began issuing “warnings”—first in a speech at San Francisco on June 26 and then in Minneapolis on June 28. He “wouldn’t hesitate to risk war to preserve peace,” he said in relation to North Vietnam.

Considering that the Vietnam liberation forces were only four miles from Saigon just two weeks ago, it wasn’t surprising that Johnson should choose to “preserve peace” with his big bombing raid on August 4.

(That’s one thing that makes it so obvious that the “PT Boat attack” was a phony. Just on the verge of winning in South Vietnam, the Liberation Forces and North Vietnam needed a new war with the United States like they needed the proverbial hole in the head!)

Imperialists Have Failed!

North Vietnam sustained heavy material losses in the brutal attack of August 4.

But the imperialists failed in their objective, which was either to provoke a major war or demoralize the revolution.

On the contrary, the bombings have galvanized the Southeast Asian masses into more opposition than ever. They have alerted the defenses of China and other countries who may be attacked. They have solidified the alliance between North Vietnam and China. And they have further weakened the corrupt regime of puppet-dictator Khanh, who, already on the skids, has declared martial law to conceal the fact that nobody supports him.

Imperialism is tough and terrible, but it is dying. And the masses are fighting for a system that is just being born—and they are unconquerable.


Anti-war protest in Times Square, New York,
Aug. 8, 1964. In front of picture, arms folded,
is Dorothy Ballan, a founder and leader of
Workers World Party.

Times Square rally
against Viet War;
Police break it up!

By L. Richie

NEW YORK, August 8—Mounted police today charged into a crowd assembled in Times Square to protest the U.S. war in Vietnam. Hundreds of onlookers were stunned by the fascist thoroughness of the cops. At least one person was trampled and others were pummeled.

The right of freedom of speech was also trampled and 17 were arrested. But leaders later called for another demonstration in the same place next Saturday.

Vincent Copeland, Editor of Workers World, was the first to be grabbed and arrested by police as he defiantly continued his speech attacking the U.S. assault on Northern Vietnam after police had scattered spectators with their charge.

The meeting was sponsored by the May 2nd Committee and Youth Against War and Fascism.

The meeting began at 4:00 P.M. Saturday just north of crowded Times Square at Broadway and 47th Street in a large street island called Duffy Square. The listeners gathered in front of a statue there while speakers mounted the base of the statue.

Levi Laub, an official of May 2 Committee, opened the meeting and was followed by Philip Luce, acting chairman of the May 2nd Committee. A squad of police began to move in as Luce introduced Vincent Copeland of Workers World. Copeland welcomed all to the protest against the U.S. action in Viet Nam and said, “The threat of Goldwater’s itchy trigger finger has now been replaced by the bloody hand of Johnson.”

The squad of cops then moved in and surrounded the speaker and others at the base of the statue.

“Let him speak; let him speak!” the crowd began to chant. The chant continued until Luce raised his hand for silence and announced that, “The police say they are not going to allow us to speak.”

At this point the mounted police charged into the audience. The horsed cops drove the people to the far ends of the square and into the street. One man fell under the horses’ hooves and the police rider trampled him. Some of the scattered spectators climbed on raised stone areas to escape the horses. Many still held up signs demanding that U.S. troops be withdrawn from Vietnam.

At this point Copeland had gotten an electronic megaphone and he resumed his speech as thousands of spectators stopped on the sidewalks to view the action. “Look at the fascist cops—is this what we’re supposed to be fighting for in Vietnam?” he said.

Copeland continued speaking until two cops grabbed him and jerked him to a waiting car.

A large group of youthful onlookers then marched over to the police station on West 47th Street, where the arrested people were being held, shouting and chanting slogans of freedom for the prisoners and peace in Vietnam.

Among others arrested were Key Martin of Youth Against War and Fascism, Levi Laub of Progressive Labor, and Fred Jerome, Editor of Challenge.

As the 17 arrested were released Saturday night they assembled with a hundred or more supporters who had come to the night court to support them. An announcement was made that those arrested had met while inside the jail and had drawn up a press statement which ended with a call for another protest meeting to again defy the warmongers—on Saturday, Aug. 15 at 4 P.M.

Aug. 27, 1964

47 arrested for defying Times Square ban second time

Youth cry: ‘Stop Vietnam War!’

NEW YORK, Aug. 16—Hundreds of people returned to Times Square yesterday to hold the most powerful demonstration yet seen in this country against the U.S. war in Vietnam, and to protest the police-made law banning demonstrations in Times Square which has been in effect for two years.

The demonstrators were viciously and repeatedly attacked by the police, including Gestapo-like plainclothesmen.

The demonstration had been called by the 17 people arrested the previous Saturday in a similar Times Square demonstration, as soon as they had been released from jail. Both demonstrations were sponsored by the May 2nd Movement and Youth Against War and Fascism.

Vincent Copeland, editor of Workers World, who was arrested at the August 8 demonstration, was arrested again yesterday as soon as he arrived at Times Square at 4:00 P.M. Throughout the demonstration, the cops tried to pick off leaders. They later arrested Fred Goldstein, National Organizational Director of Youth Against War and Fascism.

The cops pushed the assembled demonstrators out of Times Square at 47th Street. The crowd resisted, first chanting “Let them speak.” The demonstrators moved east on 47th Street, hoping to be able to speak when they reached the UN Plaza. The demonstrators brought out their signs opposing the war in Vietnam, gave out their leaflets, and chanted “fascist cops” and “Nazi cops.” Soon the cops were pushing a sea of demonstrators toward Sixth Avenue.

When the demonstrators reached Sixth Avenue, the police charged into those at the front of the line, fighting them and dragging them along. The crowd began to shout “Police brutality”; and then, “Stop the war in Vietnam—bring the troops home.”

Between Sixth and Second Avenues, the cops continually fought and arrested demonstrators. They crushed the crowd against automobiles, and tore shirts. Key Martin, National Chairman of Youth Against War and Fascism, was twice beaten to the ground and clubbed in the stomach. Other demonstrators were cut in the head, injured in the knee, and injured in the ribs. ...

In all, 47 were arrested, nearly half of them youth in their late teens and early twenties. ...

At night court, bail was set for the demonstrators, singly and in pairs, all through the night and into the morning. Bail was high, $500 for alleged disorderly conduct and $1,000 for heavier charges. A large crowd of sympathizers welcomed the defendants as they were brought into court and bailed out.

The demonstration exposed the phony unity behind the war that the ruling class politicians called for. It showed that the war is the war of the rich, not ours.