---
title: 'FTA, Freak the Army: GI-civilian solidarity concert and rally'
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/fta-freak-the-army-concert-rally-dane-levy-yarrow-1969/
description: Hand-lettered poster headed by four named invitors (Barbara Dane, James Johnson of the Ft. Hood 3, Dr.
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[![FTA, Freak the Army: GI-civilian solidarity concert and rally](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/fta-freak-the-army-concert-rally-dane-levy-yarrow-1969.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/fta-freak-the-army-concert-rally-dane-levy-yarrow-1969.jpg)

# FTA, Freak the Army: GI-civilian solidarity concert and rally

Hand-lettered poster headed by four named invitors (Barbara Dane, James Johnson of the Ft. Hood 3, Dr. Howard Levy, Peter Yarrow) and the letters "FTA" expanded as "Freak the Army", over two hands gripping prison-style bars with a flower. It announces a concert/rally on Dec. 26 at the Manhattan Center, 311 W 34 St., New York, proceeds to the United States Servicemen's Fund. The tells are the expansion of a recruiting-era initialism into a slogan and the named public figures lent to the event.

## Text on the object

Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
BARBARA DANE - JAMES JOHNSON (FT. HOOD 3)
DR. HOWARD LEVY - PETER YARROW INVITE YOU TO...
FTA
FREAK THE ARMY [small script: and other services]
SHOW GI-CIVILIAN SOLIDARITY
STOP THE VIETNAM MASSACRE
CONCERT/RALLY - DEC. 26   8 P.M. AND 11:30 P.M.
MANHATTAN CENTER - 311 W 34 ST  INFO. TEL 255-1075
PROCEEDS TO THE UNITED STATES SERVICEMENS FUND.
```

Read from a 640 px LoC scan. The artist's signature at lower right is not legible and is omitted.

[← "Cuba: 10 Years of Revolution! Cuba Today": handbill template, United States, 1969](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/cuba-ten-years-of-revolution-handbill-1969/) [How many more must die? March Against Death: A Vietnam memorial →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/new-mobe-how-many-more-must-die-march-against-death-1969/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Punch, 'The Jamaica Question' (Tenniel), 23 December 1865](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/punch-jamaica-question-1865/) (United Kingdom · Dec 23, 1865 · Name-calling, Semantic hijacking). Content note: Full-page period caricature of a Black Jamaican man, a white planter and a clergyman, made in the context of the 1865 Morant Bay killings.
- [Mr. John Dillon, M.P., on recruiting in Ireland. Join an Irish regiment to-day](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/john-dillon-on-recruiting-in-ireland-1915/) (United Kingdom · 1915 · Testimonial, Semantic hijacking)
- [Auch die Geduld hat ein Ende (Even Patience Has an End), German-language leaflet for German soldiers](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/allied-leaflet-auch-die-geduld-hat-ein-ende-1918/) (Transnational · 1918 · Scapegoating, Semantic hijacking)
- ['Zeitaku wa teki da!' (Luxury Is the Enemy!) street sign, Tokyo](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/luxury-is-the-enemy-sign-1940/) (Empire of Japan · Aug 1, 1940 · Semantic hijacking, Identity fusion)
- [Männer und Frauen der Untersteiermark! (leaflet for enrolment in the Styrian Homeland League)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/maenner-und-frauen-der-untersteiermark-1941/) (Nazi Germany · 1941 · Semantic hijacking, Scapegoating, Name-calling). Content note: Occupation proclamation with threats against 'elements hostile to the people'
- [V = Duitschland wint voor Europa op alle fronten (V = Germany wins for Europe on all fronts)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/v-duitschland-wint-voor-europa-1941/) (Nazi Germany · 1941 · Semantic hijacking)
- [V = Zwycięstwo Niemiec na wszystkich frontach (V = Victory of Germany on all fronts)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/v-zwyciestwo-niemiec-polish-v-poster-1941/) (General Government · Jul 1941 · Card stacking, Semantic hijacking)
- [Tu défends la Belgique... en luttant au front de l'Est (You defend Belgium... by fighting on the Eastern Front)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/tu-defends-la-belgique-ss-wallonie-1943/) (Nazi Germany · 1943 · Semantic hijacking, Transfer). Content note: Waffen-SS recruiting poster with armed soldiers and the SS name