Amex: Discord and Unity in the Canadian Vietnam-Era Anti-Draft Movement, 1969-1971

During the American Vietnam War of the 1960s and early 1970s, a movement dedicated to opposing the draft and assisting both draft dodgers and deserters emerged within Canada, where many of these war resisters immigrated. Exile groups were organizations in the anti-draft movement consisting entirely of American war resisters. One prominent exile newsletter was Amex: The American Expatriate in Canada. Amex’s reactions to events in the Canadian antidraft movement during its second volume (1969–1971) demonstrate how despite frequently criticizing other organizations and individuals within the movement, it ultimately advocated for unity. The newsletter's views on discord and unity within the anti-draft movement are representative of the larger movement’s success in maintaining cohesion despite disputes.