J. Edgar Hoover, serving as the Director of the FBI, along with John Mitchell, the Attorney General, announced the arrest of 20 individuals known as the Camden 28. This group formed part of a broader anti-war movement in the United States, where opposition to the Vietnam War had reached significant levels. The Camden 28, specifically, were accused of conspiring to disrupt a military draft board in Camden, New Jersey. They believed their actions were part of a larger movement against the war, which they deemed unjust and destructive.

The arrests were the result of a sting operation where the FBI had infiltrated the group. Authorities alleged that the activists were planning to disrupt the functioning of the draft. The Camden 28's lawyers argued that their clients were exercising their First Amendment right to free speech and assembly. This case was emblematic of the era's tensions, where anti-war sentiments were often met with increased scrutiny and policing from the government.

The announcement came amid widespread protests across the country, as the Vietnam War continued to ignite passionate dissent. The involvement of high-ranking officials like Hoover and Mitchell illustrated the seriousness with which the government viewed the anti-war movement. As the political landscape evolved, the Camden 28's story became an essential chapter in the discourse surrounding civil liberties and dissent, reflecting broader themes of resistance and repression during one of the most contentious periods in U.S. history.