On April 6, 1971, Madison, Wisconsin residents voted on an advisory referendum stating that “It shall be the policy of the people of the city of Madison that there shall be an immediate ceasefire and immediate withdrawal of all U.S. troops and military equipment from Southeast Asia so that the people of Southeast Asia can settle their own problems.” A similar referendum in 1968 had gained 44 per cent of the vote. The 1971 referendum gained 56 per cent.
Supporters of the referendum organized as Citizens for Immediate Withdrawal in March, 1971. Led by members of the Madison Area Peace Action Council and with the support of that organization, Citizens for Immediate Withdrawal maintained an office, distributed leaflets, advertised, and gathered and publicized the names of those endorsing a “yes” vote.
