David Harris (protester) facts for kids
David Victor Harris (born February 28, 1946 – died February 6, 2023) was an American journalist and activist. He became well-known for his actions against the Vietnam War. He organized peaceful protests against joining the military. He also chose not to join the military himself, which led to him spending time in a special facility. After this, Harris had a long career, working for 50 years as a respected journalist and writer. He reported on many important stories from both the United States and around the world.
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Early Life and School
Harris was born in Fresno, California, on February 28, 1946. His father, Clifton G. Harris Jr., was a lawyer. His mother, Elaine Jensen Harris, was a homemaker. David had an older brother named Clifton G. Harris III.
His family first settled in Fresno through his great-grandfather, Levi Barringer. His grandfather, Daniel Jensen, was a skilled woodworker. His other grandfather, Clifton G. Harris Sr., managed a special railroad line.
David and his brother went to public schools in Fresno. At Fresno High School, Harris was a good football player. He was also an excellent student and a champion debater. In 1963, he was named "Boy of the Year" when he graduated. Harris then received a scholarship to Stanford University. There, he quickly became involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He was elected student body president at Stanford in the spring of 1966.
Standing Up for Peace
In 1967, Harris helped start an organization called The Resistance. This group encouraged people to peacefully refuse to join the military. They were against the war that the military system supported. During 1967 and 1968, The Resistance held public events. At these events, thousands of young men returned their draft cards. This was a way to show they disagreed with the war. It was an action that could lead to serious consequences.
Harris himself was told to report for military service in January 1968. He refused to go. Soon after, he faced legal action. He was accused of not following a military order. In May 1968, he was found guilty in federal court. He was sentenced to spend time in a special facility for three years. The judge told him, "you may be right but you're going to be punished."
After trying to appeal his conviction for a year, Harris was sent to a federal facility in July 1969. He spent 20 months there before being released early. He was held for one month in San Francisco. Then he spent seven months in Federal Prison Camp, Safford, Arizona. He spent another 12 months in Federal Correctional Institution, La Tuna, Texas. After his release on March 15, 1971, Harris continued to organize against the Vietnam War. He did this until peace agreements were signed in March 1973.
In 1976, Harris ran for Congress as a Democratic candidate. He spoke against bringing back military registration. He also supported those who refused to register in the 1980s and later.
Harris is featured in a 2020 documentary film. It is called The Boys Who Said NO!. This film tells the story of people who resisted joining the military during the Vietnam War.
A Career in Journalism
In March 1973, Jann Wenner gave Harris a chance to write for Rolling Stone magazine. Wenner was the founder and publisher of the magazine. This opportunity started Harris's career as a national and international journalist. He worked for over 40 years in this field. In 1978, Harris signed a contract with New York Times Magazine. He worked there as a contributing editor for the next ten years. After his time with The Times, Harris focused on writing books. He published eleven books in total.
Personal Life
Marriage to Joan Baez
In October 1967, the folk singer Joan Baez and many other women were arrested. They were protesting at a military center in Oakland, California. They blocked the doorways to stop young people from entering. This was to support young men who refused to join the military. They were held at the Santa Rita Jail.
David Harris and Joan Baez met when he visited her home. He was asking for a donation for The Resistance group.
Later, they became very close. Baez moved into his peaceful community. It was located in the hills above Stanford, California. They had known each other for three months when they decided to get married. When the news was confirmed, media outlets wrote a lot about their upcoming wedding. At one point, Time magazine called it the "Wedding of the Century."
Baez and Harris found a preacher who believed in peace. They married in New York City on March 26, 1968. Their friend Judy Collins sang at the ceremony. After the wedding, Baez and Harris moved to a home in Los Altos Hills. It was part of a community called Struggle Mountain. They grew gardens and were strict vegetarians.
Soon after, Harris refused to join the armed forces. He was then taken to a special facility by federal marshals on July 16, 1969. Baez was visibly pregnant in public in the following months. She famously performed at the Woodstock Festival.
Their son, Gabriel, was born on December 2, 1969. Harris was released from the Texas facility after 15 months. However, the couple separated three months after his release. They divorced in a friendly way in 1973. They shared custody of Gabriel, who mostly lived with Baez. Baez and Harris remained friends over the years. They reunited on camera for a 2009 documentary for PBS called American Masters.
Later Relationships
Harris married again in 1977. His second wife was Lacey Fosburgh, a reporter and writer for the New York Times. Their daughter, Sophie, was born in 1983. Fosburgh passed away in 1993 due to health problems.
In 1996, Harris started a relationship with Cheri Forrester, who was a doctor. They married in 2011. They lived in Mill Valley, California.
Passing Away
Harris passed away from lung cancer at his home in Mill Valley on February 6, 2023. He was 76 years old.
Images for kids
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Harris in 1968
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David Harris at home, Mill Valley, CA, 2005
