Antiwar sentiment grew among militant black factions and other disenfranchised groups who were shunted to war in disproportionate numbers. On April 4, 1967, Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. denounced US intervention in Vietnam and announced his intention to unify the antiwar and civil rights movements. King said, “The greatest purveyor of violence in the world today is my own government,” and encouraged dodging of the draft.

“The bombs in Vietnam explode at home; they destroy the hopes and possibilities for a decent America.” -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cassius Clay become a Black Muslim and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He declared that participation in war was contrary to his religious principles and said, “No Vietnamese ever called me n****r.” In April 1967, Ali was denied the conscientious objector status he sought and when called to serve, he refused induction and was arrested. Ali was barred from boxing in the US, and later stripped of his world heavyweight boxing title.

“Clay Refuses Army Oath; Stripped of Boxing Crown,” New York Times, Apr 29, 1967.

Ali said, “I'm giving up my title, my wealth, maybe my future. Many great men have been tested for their religious beliefs. If I pass this test, I'll come out stronger than ever.”

Shortly before his assassination on Feb. 21, 1965, Malcolm X spoke to students at Columbia University, “the revolt of the American Negro is part of the rebellion against oppression and colonialism . . . we are today seeing a global rebellion of the oppressed against the oppressor, the exploited against the exploiter.”