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CO 00 18'2 0 9 . .' c . I ' ' . b .. . 28 July 1972 . . SITUATION INFORMATION REPORT 0 b i t h a flare for "guerrilla theater" actions that h a s won them national attention again and again, the Vietnam Veterans Against the W a r Organization h a s emerged as one of the most outspoken militant peace groups in the country. Founded by six young veterans €ram New York City in 1967,. the current leadership claims th$ group has grown in size to more than 25,000 mkmbers with approxin;atcly 8000 active participants. It is interesting to note that a former VVAN officer recently estimated the active membership at closer to 1000. The organization is currently controlled by six national coordinators, each with a specific function, who provide executive leadcrship to 26 regions throughout the United Staies. prf / 6,Pd 7 3 - The Vietnam Veterans Against the W a r adhere to nine objectives. withdrawal of American troops from Vielnain, liberalization of legal rights for servicemen,. amnesty for desert-ers and draft evaders, and changing "the economic institutions that have caused and per- mitted the continuance of war. " lncluded among these a r e denrands for a n ininiediate The group received widespread attention on 14 July 1972 when six of its national leaders were indicted by a federal grand jury in Tallahassee, Florida, for conspiring to disrupt the Republican National Convention with firebombs and shootings. Previously, the VVAW was involved in another notable action that took place last Decernbcr when protesters occupied the Statue of Liberty, Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia, Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D. C. , a military hospital ward in California and a South Vietnamese consulate in Sail Francisco, all in the course r)f one wcek, to publicize thc organization's opposition to the Vietnamcsc war. r...: ./ 1 c i) I I*..J .; : . w: .- .