In December 1965, Des Moines, Iowa, high school student John Tinker, his 13-year-old sister Mary Beth, and John's friend Christopher Eckhardt decided to protest American involvement in the war by wearing black armbands to school. John had previously attended a war protest in Washington, D.C., and Eckhardt's family was part of an anti-war group, which inspired them to organize a meeting for students interested in joining the protest. However, Des Moines' school administration heard about their plans and banned wearing armbands, making some hesitant to participate.
D.C. protest inspired student protest.
(John Tinker, Personal Interview, March 3, 2025)
Washington, D.C. protest.
(The Des Moines Register, November 28, 1965)
"This is the notice that was passed out in December, 1965 to let students and others
know about the upcoming action." (Caption: Tinker Tour; Flyer: Library of Congress, 1965)
"Approximately 60 students were planning to wear armbands. When the rule was made, I wore it, and Mary Beth wore it, and then John wore it... People who had scholarships were afraid of losing them [so they didn't]. Other parents were not as supportive as mine and John and Mary Beth's."
- Christopher Eckhardt (Speaking Our Minds Conversations, 2002)
The Protest
On December 16, 1965, only five students wore black armbands to school in symbolic protest of the war and to mourn those who died, including John and Mary Beth Tinker, Christopher Eckhardt, Bruce Clark, and Christine Singer. Although their protest was silent and peaceful, they were told to remove their armbands. When they did not comply, they were sent to the office and suspended.
"[Office pass] given to Mary Beth Tinker on 12/16." (Tinker Tour, December 16, 1965)
(Des Moines Tribune, December 17, 1965)
"I took the notice home and I wasn't sure what was going to happen, [but] we had experienced watching the Birmingham kids... [get] killed for speaking up against racial segregation. I felt like getting suspended was really not a very bad thing to happen compared to that."
- Mary Beth Tinker (Iowa PBS, 2019)
School Board Appeal
The students and their families immediately appealed their suspensions and testified at a public hearing attended by 200 people where the school board upheld the disciplinary decision in a 5-2 vote. However, the Tinkers maintained the school had a responsibility to uphold their First Amendment rights to free expression and filed a lawsuit against the school district with legal assistance from the Iowa Civil Liberties Union (ICLU).
"Chris Eckhardt with his mother, Maggie and father, Bill attend the School Board meeting after we were suspended." (Tinker Tour, 1965)
(Des Moines Register, January 1, 1965, p. 1)
"I would not condone the wearing of arm bands because I think it's a disturbing influence. We're running an educational institution and I don't think this is any part of it. Our country's leaders have decided on a course of action and we should support them."
- Ora Niffenegger, School Board President (Des Moines Register, December 28, 1965, p. 10)
