The Chicago Committee to End the War in Vietnam was established in February, 1965, to “rally opposition to the government's war policies in Vietnam.” Its main purpose was to organize Chicago's participation in the Students for a Democratic Society's April 17 March on Washington; after April 17, however, it continued in existence and expanded its anti-war activities. The Committee was encouraged by other peace groups and shared the SDS offices in Chicago. The Committee worked first on area college campuses and then expanded its viewpoint to include activities aimed at the general public. These activities included both educational and organizational projects.
The first major project, a march through the Chicago Loop to the Federal Building on May 21, 1965, resulted in the arrest of forty participants. Later that summer, members conducted “teach-outs” on street corners in downtown Chicago in which they gave speeches, distributed literature collected the names of interested passers-by, and held a referendum on U.S. government policy in Vietnam. They also picketed the draft board and Central Induction Offices; distributed leaflets encouraging soldiers and prospective soldiers to seek conscientious objector status; and helped sponsor the October 15-16, 1965 nationwide anti-war demonstrations.
Committee staff consisted of two full-time workers -- Steve Baum, Chicago project coordinator, and Earl Silbar, Midwest regional coordinator -- and several volunteer assistants.
This writer could find no information about the Committee after 1965.
