On June 5, 1969, during the height of the Vietnam War and the soldier and sailor resistance to it, 250 men rioted in the military stockade at U.S. Army post Fort Dix located near Trenton, New Jersey. The prisoners called it a rebellion and cited grievances including overcrowding, starvation, beatings, being chained to chairs, forced confessions and participation in an unjust war. One soldier said you can only treat us "like animals for so long", while another described "unbearable circumstances".[1][2]: p.63 The Army initially called it a "disturbance" caused by a small number of "instigators" and "troublemakers", but soon charged 38 soldiers with riot and inciting to riot.[3][2]: p.9 The antiwar movement, which had been increasingly recognizing and supporting resistance to the war within the military, quickly moved to defend the rebels/rioters and those the Army singled out for punishment. On June 18, the Army announced charges against 38 soldiers for "participating in a riot", "destruction of Government property, arson and conspiracy to riot." Soon the slogan "Free the Fort Dix 38" was heard in antiwar speeches, written about in underground newspapers and leaflets, and demonstrations were planned.[4]
- ^ "Letter From One of Many (Tom Catlow)". content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection. Wisconsin Historical Society: GI Press Collection. The Shakedown.
- ^ a b Crowell, Joan (1974). Fort Dix stockade: Our Prison Camp Next Door. New York, NY: Links. ISBN 0825630355.
- ^ "150 Riot at Ft. Dix Stockade; Fires Set and Windows Broken". The New York Times. 1969-06-06.
- ^ "38 at Fort Dix Charged with Roles in June 2 Riot". The New York Times. 1969-06-19.