April 16, 1969: 52 years ago, 19-year-old Maoist Chris Milton refused induction into the [...]

52 years ago, 19-year-old Maoist Chris Milton refused induction into the Army at the Oakland Induction Center. The “Chris Milton Offense Committee” held a support rally, which was also the first public appearance of the new Bay Area Revolutionary Union, of which he was a member

Milton’s father David was an academic and supporter of the Chinese revolution who had moved the family to Beijing in 1964. There, Chris participated in the Cultural Revolution as “the only caucasian member of the Red Guards”

Several high-profile local radicals spoke at the Chris Milton Offense Committee rally, including David Hilliard of the Black Panther Party, Frank Bardacke of the Oakland 7, a representative from Chinatown’s Red Guard, and Bob Avakian, the leader of Milton’s organization BARU

BARU claimed Milton was being drafted because of his politics. In fact, the FBI did intend to use Milton’s draft resistance against BARU. J. Edgar Hoover suggested in a memo that a note be sent to BARU claiming Milton “dodged induction” because he was “blabbing to intelligence”

*April 16th, 1984

@Evict_Twit_ter thanks!