May 7, 1979
With thunderous chants of "No More Harrisburgs" and "No Nukes, No Nukes," a vast crowd of at least 65,000 protesters reminiscent of antiwar throngs of a decade ago marched on the Capitol yesterday, calling for an end to U.S. decpendece on nuclear energy.
As their banners billowed under bright skies, the protesters stepped in massive ranks from the ellipse, near the white house, down Pennsylvania Avenue to the west steps of the capitol.
There, they cheered speaker after speaker, including California Gov. Jerry Brown, consumer advocate Ralph Nader, actress Jane Fonda and longtime political activist Tom Hayden.
Triggered by the three mile island nuclear plant accident near Harrisburg, Pa., five weeks ago, the outpouring marked the largest national protest to date by the growing anitnuclear movement.