AJC Calls for Vietnam Amnesty

The American Jewish Congress called today for unconditional. amnesty for “all those who were compelled by their conscience to refuse to participate in the Vietnam war”. and said that Congress could grant the amnesty if the President refuses to act.

A resolution adopted by the AJ Congress’ policy-making National Governing Council noted that “Thousands of young Americans found that their conscience did not permit them to serve in an armed conflict which they believed to be wrong” and that many of them were forced to become expatriates and others live under the threat of criminal prosecution.

“The nation is giving increased attention to binding up the wounds caused in our society by the Vietnam war,” the resolution said. “While historically Presidents have granted amnesty, court decisions and other interpretations seem to indicate that Congress also has the right to grant amnesty,” the AJ Congress observed.

The resolution said that amnesty should include draft refusers, deserters, expatriates and those who have renounced their citizenship. “We believe that those who have served or are serving prison terms for following their conscience by refusing to serve in the Vietnam war should receive full pardons,” the resolution added.

The AJ Congress maintained that amnesty should not be conditioned on some form of alternative service because “adoption of any such proposal would necessarily prolong the divisive debate engendered by the Vietnam war.”

The AJ Congress is the second major American Jewish organization to call for amnesty for Vietnam draft evaders in less than a week. A similar call for unconditional amnesty was-overwhelmingly adopted at the opening of the 84th annual convention of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in Atlanta last Thursday.