On August 27, 1967, the "Peace Torch" was blessed in Grace Cathedral, San Francisco  just before it began its 3,500-mile journey to Washington DC..  The idea was that 3,500 people would run or walk a mile each, carrying the torch until it would arrive on October 21, 1967, the day the National Mobilization Committee To End The War in Vietnam planned to have one million protesters march on the Pentagon.

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Activist Jerry Rubin was the figurehead for the "Mobe," as it was termed.  The rally in DC. On October 21 was attended by 100,000 anti-Vietnam War demonstrators, the second major national protest against the Vietnam War. following on the heels of the successful October 15, 1965 Vietnam Day demonstrations..  About 50,000 people marched on the Pentagon on October 21,1967, and about 650 were arrested and dozens were hospitalized.  Along with the signs, chants, and other typical hallmarks of an anti-war demonstration, activists Abbie Hoffman, Allen Ginsberg, Ed Sanders, and Jerry Rubin announced that they planned  to "raise the Pentagon off its foundation and put an end to the war."