Final answer:
CORE's complaint about the draft in the United States revolved around racial inequality and the unfair treatment of African Americans by draft boards. Racial tensions and concerns about equity in the conscription process were paramount, with protests and civil disobedience aimed at desegregating public spaces and highlighting these inequalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
Opposition to the Draft by CORE
The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) had significant concerns about the draft system in the United States, particularly during World War II and the Vietnam War. CORE's complaints revolved around the overarching issue of racial inequality. Racial tension and concerns about equity were at the forefront of their protests. They saw the draft as potentially perpetuating these inequalities, especially if draft boards unfairly targeted Black Americans or allowed wealthier individuals to avoid conscription through payment or substitution. During the war, CORE engaged in civil disobedience to desegregate public spaces and demanded the United States address its own racial injustices to truly exemplify the democratic ideals it fought for abroad.
Ideas of opposition to conscription have a longstanding history. Draft boards were tasked with rankings based on various categories, yet boards operated by white Southerners would often grant exemptions to white individuals while being harsher on Black Americans, highlighting the intrinsic racial bias within the system. Moreover, the Enrollment Act of 1863 and associated riots in New York exemplified how racial tensions and fears could erupt into violence, with Black populations being targets amidst the draft controversies.
In cases like United States v. O'Brien, the Supreme Court considered the balance between individual freedoms and governmental interests. The criminal prohibition against draft card burning was not considered a violation of the First Amendment because it was justified by the need for an efficient draft system. While this case doesn't directly address CORE's complaints, it illustrates the ongoing tension between individual protest and state power.