Stop work to stop the war

This poster was created in 1970 as part of the Vietnam Moratorium movement in Australia that was at its peak from 1969-1971. This poster was specifically aimed at promoting the second Moratorium protest on 18 September. At the largest of these national protests, in Melbourne, almost 200 people were arrested in what was initially touted (and later considered) as a peaceful protest. The protests were largely organised by two groups in Australia: the Vietnam Moratorium Campaign (VMC), and the Congress for International Co-operation and Disarmament (CICD). The Moratoria were largely based off the American model, which had produced large protests on 15 October and 15 November 1969. The 8 May 1970 Moratorium in Australia came just four days after the Kent State Shootings in Ohio. At these protests to the Vietnam War, armed members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on unarmed protestors leaving 4 dead and 9 injured. Moratorium posters were usually printed in strong colours, often orange and blue or vibrant red and black.

This poster, specifically aimed at workers, calls for staff to cease work to protest for the withdrawal of Australian and American troops from Vietnam. The bright bold, red text "STOP WORK / to STOP the War" drawers in the viewers' attention. It is set in front of images of the first Moratorium protest that was held on 8 May 1970. Within these images can be seen protesters holding signs protesting the war. In the centre left of the poster is the Moratorium starburst symbol - the symbol that was seen on many of these posters relating to the Moratorium.