OTTAWA'S BIGGEST ANTIWAR DEMONSTRATION
Ottawa
In spite of rain and cold weather, more than 400 people marched through downtown Ottawa October 21 to protest the U.S. aggression in Vietnam and the role of the Canadian government in supporting it. From 800 to 1,000 people gathered on Parliament Hill to hear the speeches. This was by far the largest local antiwar demonstration Ottawa has ever seen.
The mobilization, which was sponsored by the Ottawa Committee to End the War in Vietnam captured Canada-wide attention from the beginning when it challenged a government decision to ban poudspeaking equipment from Parliament ill.
The committee lodged an appeal
with the prime minister and then decided
to carry out their plans even if the ban
were upheld.
The leader of the New Democratic
party (Canada's labour party), 1.C.Doug-
las, agreed to speak at the rally with or
without authorized loudspeakers.
In face of the firm position taken
by the Ottawa committee and the scheduled
speakers, as well as the large number of
people who showed up, the government
backed down and allowed the rally to pro-
ceed unhindered.