Nothing Will Defeat The Spirit of This Land: Posters on the War in Viet Nam

Exhibition Critiques U.S. War Policies

This is a lightly-edited version of the exhibition's press release

The Asian & Pacific Islander Coalition Against War (APICAW) in conjunction with the Asian Resource Gallery and the All Of Us Or None archival collection of political posters is proud to present "Nothing Will Defeat the Spirit of This Land: Posters on the War in Viet Nam." APICAW is a Bay Area coalition of API individuals and organizations that believes true peace and security can only come through global justice.

We urge critical support in endorsements and attendance for this important exhibit, for offering an alternative viewpoint from that of the mainstream media and U.S. government policies that advocate endless wars against manufactured international enemies.

Why Viet Nam, and Why Now?
This year of 2005 marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the United States’ war in Viet Nam. For the Vietnamese who fought for the American-sponsored South Viet Nam government, this anniversary is known as the Fall of Saigon. Many overseas Vietnamese, especially the older generation, mourn April 30th, 1975–the day South Viet Nam’s president surrendered to the Communist-led national liberation forces–as Black April. But at the same time and in all due respect, for most of those in Viet Nam and around the world this anniversary is remembered as the re-unification of Viet Nam and the victorious end to the Vietnamese struggle against a seemingly invincible American superpower.

Why Posters?
At its core our exhibit is a cultural statement that offers a view of the just Vietnamese resistance to the pro-war forces of the United States, while exposing the hypocrisies of imperialist war. With anti-war as its central theme, we focused the exhibit on mass-produced posters from the 60s and 70s that roared strong anti-imperialist messages and advocated for Third World unity, as we recognize its relevance today. This collection of over 60 posters echoes APICAW’s firm belief in Strength in Unity among oppressed communities of color here and around the world.

In addition, the exhibit presents an opportunity to remind the American public that the United States’ wars of aggression – from Viet Nam to Iraq – are about securing lucrative markets and global hegemony, and not about spreading freedom and democracy. Because of this, the U.S.’ and all foreign military and economic expansionism will always be met with popular global opposition and the peoples’ struggle for self-determination. We see this occurring all over the world from the Philippines, throughout the Pacific Islands, to Palestine, Vieques, and also here in Oakland. Thus, given the international political context and era in which we live, Nothing Will Defeat the Spirit of This Land is an especially informative, educational and timely exhibit.

Because of the Spirit of This Land
When voices of dissent are being stifled and basic civil liberties are being trampled upon, it is imperative to create avenues of reasonable dialogue and truthful information. It is our responsibility to learn about and reveal the truths of war and the truths of struggles for independence and national liberation. We believe our poster exhibit is a part of this broader expression of political truth, courage and determination that is necessary to revitalize our communities to rise up.

Optimistically, we feel the exhibit may re-open a space where our communities of color can unite in resistance to unjust wars abroad and to fight for freedom and justice at home. It is through such concerted efforts and collective solidarity that we strengthen our ties so that Nothing Will Defeat the Spirit of All Our Peoples.

The exhibit will be up through the end of April.

This exhibit is endorsed by the following individuals and organizations:
Alliance of South Asians Taking Action
American Friends Service Committee
Amina Baraka – Poet/Activist
Amiri Baraka – Poet/Playwright/Activist
Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center
Bagong Bayan
Bobby Seale – ex-chairman of Black Panther Party
Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors’ Military Out of Schools Program
Kathleen Cleavor - ESAA Advisory Board Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines
Eastside Arts Alliance
Emory Douglas – ex-Minister of Culture of Black Panther Party
Filipinos for Affirmative Action
Fred Ho - Musician/Writer
JustACT: Youth Action for Global Justice
Korean Americans United for Peace
Locus Arts
Malaquias Montoya – Chicano Movement artist
Malcolm X Grassroots Movement
News & Letters
Ngo Thanh Nhan & Merle Ratner of the Vietnam Agent Orange Relief & Responsibility Campaign
Not In Our Name
Phil Hutchings – ex-Chairman of Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
School of Unity & Liberation
Southeast Asian Student Coalition of UC Berkeley
Third World Coalition
Tran Khanh Tuyet
Women for Peace
Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom
United for Peace & Justice
Vietnamese Artists Collective
VietUnity
Vu-Duc Vuong
Yuri Kochiyama – Human Rights/Political Prisoner activist