Quiet Protest: A New History of Activism During the Vietnam War

Revealing quiet activism behind powerful anti-war movements, this narrative examines dissent in NSW during the Vietnam War. It uncovers how everyday actions—from letter-writing to legal aid—reshaped political engagement, setting a foundation for future feminist and climate justice organizing. A new history of protest told through quiet activism. The Vietnam War sparked the largest public demonstrations Australia had ever seen. Hundreds of thousands of citizens actively opposed the war in the 1960s and 70s. Quiet Protest uncovers a hidden side of this movement, telling the story of activism that was powered by letter-writing, legal aid, fundraising and everyday conversations. The public anti-Vietnam War protest movement was unprecedented, but so was the ‘quieter’ movement. By focusing on the anti-Vietnam War movement in NSW, this book offers a case study which re-imagines our understanding of protest.These quieter acts of dissent reshaped political engagement and laid the groundwork for future movements – from feminist organising to climate justice. Historian Effie Karageorgos offers a captivating new perspective on what it means to protest, and who gets remembered.