Philadelphia Daily News Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Tuesday, October 03, 1961
Peace Marchers Greeted In Moscow, but Silenced
Moscow (UPI).—A group of Western “peace marchers” was denied permission to make speeches in Red Square today. The group of 31 marchers, after hiking across two continents, was halted by Soviet officials just 100 yards from the Lenin-Stalin Tomb in Red Square.
The group had hoped to make speeches advocating unilateral disarmament and end to nuclear tests. No speeches were permitted.
Leaders of the group were upset at being forbidden to make their speeches at the Tomb.
“We wanted to speak to the people, not just to reporters,” said Bradford Lyttle, of Chicago, the group leader.
THE MARCHERS, including 13 Americans, were subdued as they walked into Moscow earlier today after a hike which started last Dec. 1 in San Francisco.
As they walked slowly into Red Square they were surrounded by several hundred curious Russians. Some applauded and waved. Soviet policemen on motorcycles and patrol cars cleared the way.
AMONG THOSE who marched all the way was Mrs. Regina Fischer, mother of American chess champion Bobby Fischer.
George Willoughby of Philadelphia, a member of the Committee for Non-Violent Action, which is one of the sponsors of the march, put his arm around Millie Gilbertsen, 37, of St. Louis, and said, “you made it, kid.”
AS THEY WALKED, the marchers handed out Russian-language yellow leaflets, advocating general disarmament.
