July 30

The Wellington Committee on Vietnam has voted in favour of a proposal by The Student Anti-War Movement that the July 30th Mobilisation be silent.

On July 30th we march against the involvement of New Zealand and U.S. troops in what is perhaps the most tragic and irresponsible war of all time. Primarily we march in protest; in individual and united protest against our Government's commitment of troops to the Indochinese war. But protest must be something more, than the releasing of our own sentiment—it must communicate—it must prompt each person who sees or hears of our protest to consider what we endeavour to say.

The mass chanting of April 30th perhaps gave the march unity, but it was a unity impenetrable to many. The chant is an aggression easily countered by a similar aggression. Even many who also wished to protest could not accept this form of protest.

On July 30th we march in silence. Silence is also aggressive, but in a way not easily countered. By our marching we protest—by our silence we express much more of our feeling of tragedy and concern. We begin to truly communicate.