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Lunch Counter Sit-In
Emmet Taylor's father participated in the Lunch Counter Sit-In as a way to protest in a non-violent manner. The Sit-Ins were a civil right protest starting in the 1960s when young African-Americans refused to leave the "white only" counters after denied service. -
Freedom Riders and the SNCC
Michael Herlihy became a Freedom Rider and a member of the SNCC. Freedom Riders were civil rights activists who rode buses into segregated locations. The SNCC stands for Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee formed in 1960. -
President John F. Kennedy assassination
Everyone in the movie was affected by the President's death. President John F. Kennedy's assassination happened went he rode in a motorcade through Dealey Plaza and he was shot. Lee Harvey Oswald was believed to be the person who shot Kennedy and he was arrested. Kennedy's death impacted millions because he was a sign of hope. -
March on Washington to End the war in Vietnam
Michael Herlihy and Sarah Weinstock were part of the March on Washington to end the war in Vietnam. Michael was against the war in Vietnam when his brother, Brian, joined the Marines. A group of SDS marched on Washington to end the war in Vietnam and turned out to be the largest peace protest in history at the time. -
Watts Riot
Emmet Taylor participated in the Watts Riot in the movie. The Watts Riots were a series of violent conflicts between the Los Angeles police and the residents of Watts and other African American neighborhoods. In the movie, Emmet's dad was killed by a police officer for having a gun in his hand. -
Summer of Love
Katie Herlihy participates in the Summer of Love in San Francisco, after becoming a hippy and giving birth to her child. The Summer of Love was a so-called hippie movement and was a time for drugs and rock 'n' roll. This was a time when people wanted peace, love, and anti-war. -
The Black Panther Party
Emmet Taylor was recruited by the Black Panther Party while he was at the Summer of Love. The Black Panther Party believed in the ideology of nationalism, socialism, and armed self-defense for African Americans. -
March Against War at the Pentagon
Michael Herlihy, Sarah Weinstock, and Kenny Klein participated in the March Against War at the Pentagon. This is when Michael takes a flower and puts it in the barrel of a rifle. The purpose of this march was to help end the war in Vietnam and many people burnt their draft cards as a protest. -
Martin Luther King assassinated
Everyone in the movie was affected by Martin Luther King's assassination. Martin Luther King was known for his leadership in civil rights movements and for his speech in 1963 "I Have A Dream." He was shot to death while standing on a balcony outside his second-floor room at the Lorraine Motel by James Earl Ray. After, his assassination riots in the U.S. became to breakout. -
Khe Sanh and PTSD
Brian Herlihy came home from the war in Vietnam and struggles with the aftermath by having PTSD. The Battle in Khe Sanh occurred when forces from the People's Army of North Vietnam carried massive artillery on U.S. Marine garrison. The war in Khe Sanh was a bloody battle, which had caused PTSD among many of the soldiers.
