Later he said, "Whether or not a demonstration is violent is determined by the law enforcement officers themselves. All demonstrations begin peacefully, but if the police come down with billy clubs, there will be violence."

The protest proper was launched with an afternoon "Peace-in" at the public park, one mile from the Century Plaza Hotel. While the bands were playing protest and love songs, rumors spread that there was pro-war picketing in front of the hotel.

Although these reports were revealed as false, about 70 anti-war protestors walked to the hotel and began a demonstration of their own on the sidewalk outside the hotel entrance. At 5:30 a man who identified himself as a member of the American Nazi Party started heckling the demonstrators, shouting "You're killing my white brothers in Vietnam."

Police dragged the man away and then ordered the demonstrators to disperse. Most left and crossed the street, but 19 sat down. As the officers surrounded the group, one picket stood up and said, "Let's go back to the park." But the police refused to let him get through the circle. Another picket said, "Well, dammit, if they won't let us leave, we'll stay seated." A paddywagon was driven up and the 19 demonstrators were dragged, clubbed, and wrestled--as they groaned and screamed--into the truck.

Around 6:00 p.m. a gigantic anti-war rally was staged at the park. Muhammad Ali was the first speaker. He told the crowd: "Whatever you do is up to your own conscience...I am not a marcher or a demonstrator but I'm for you whatever you decide to do." This was the first peace rally Ali ever attended and may represent a change in Black Muslim policy toward greater cooperation with other anti-war groups.

Dr. Benjamin Spock warned all war protestors to "beware of our opponents' desire to divide and destroy us." He admonished protestors to "be tolerant, don't turn against others in the peace movement. Don't play Lyndon Johnson's game."

The last speaker, Rap Brown, brought the rally to a high pitch with his last statement. Pounding his fist, he shouted, "Ours is not to do or die, ours is but to reason why: Hell no, we won't go!"

Then thousands poured into the street and began walking rapidly to the hotel. Mothers pushed baby carriages, and many children were perched on their fathers' shoulders. They marched past the park and up the Avenue of the Stars into Century City at the corner where the 20-story Century Towers apartment building stood, spanking new. The marchers were separated from opposite traffic by wide boulevards covered with orange and purple flowers.

Around them were broad expanses of paper-mache tree trunks and miniature battleships which 20th Century Fox left behind when they sold the property to the Century Corporation. People were so close together and there were so many placards that the march looked more fronzied than even the best-staged rally at a political convention.

Just after the front of the line reached the hotel, the march stopped. Nobody knows quite why it did so. Police charge it was intentional, but the protest leaders say they wanted only to walk past the hotel. They claim the police narrowed the marching path from four lanes to two lanes at the corner just past the hotel, which caused congestion similar to that caused by a freeway's being narrowed to two driving lanes. Another factor could be that an enormous number of people who had been standing ten deep in front of the hotel waiting to see the parade, joined it when it came alongside.

This unexpected influx created much confusion. The police had been intent on restraining the bystanders before the marchers arrived at the hotel, but suddenly backed off and let them all rush forward.

As it turned night, about 45 minutes later, the line still had not moved although the march monitors were pleading with marchers to start walking. Then a small group of about 30 sat down and urged all those around to sit down also. In a few minutes about 150 marchers were sitting down, singing "W eshall not be moved."

The policemen were standing 10 feet apart with their billy clubs held in front of them. After the march had been still for an hour, the officers were ordered to "take off your ties." Each policeman took off his thin black tie and wrapped it around his fist. A short while later, the lieutenant called, "Okay, let's go!"

They walked rapidly into the crowd, trying to push people off the street into the large parking lot below. Many of the marchers panicked and attempted to bull their way out of the crowd, away from the police. Young children tripped and were stepped on, women were screaming, boys were shouting profanity at the police and spitting at them. Officers clubbed, and pushed, and kicked to make the protestors disperse.

The crowd poured into the parking lot below, and the police followed them in tight well-organized groups of 15. Their movements were well-lighted by the newsreel cameras.