Claire Netemeyer APUSH website 2015-16
Berkeley Free Speech Movement (1964)
Where? University of California Berkeley
When? October - December 1964
Background
With the rise of the young hippie movement in the early 60's, college campuses became very popular places for young political activism, however, when some of this activism became violent and agressive, many universities banned any on-campus student political groups (Brinkley, 789). When Berkeley University chancellor Clark Kerr became University president and expanded the campus boundaries, he created a special plaza specifically for student political groups (UIC). However, when some of these radical students started making headlines in California, an Oakland Tribune reporter wanted to put a stop to the groups (UIC).
Summary
When Dean of Students Katherine Towle told students that they were not allowed to use the plaza for politcial organization anymore, students from all political perspectives became outraged and set up tables in front of the Dean's office in protest (UIC). When the protestors' names were made into a list for suspension from the school, the crowd left the building at 3 AM (UIC). The next day, protestors showed up again lead by alumnus Jack Weinburg, (who had been arrested for civil rights activity previously) who was arrested again immediately and taken into a car when he went limp (UIC). Students surrounded this car as Jack was taken hostage for 32 hours and turned to Berekely University junior Mario Savio to lead and speak their protests (Calisphere). When Jack was finally released, he and Savio created the Berkely Free Speech Movement group, a collection of about 50 cited students that would organize sit-ins and protests with hundreds of other students until the group was dismantled when many were arrested on separate occasions (UIC).
Goals and Accomplisments
As their name implied, the Berkeley Free Speech Movement group wanted free speech for all student activists in all matters (Picture This). Although their group was split up shortly after it was formed and was only really active for a few months, they were successful in their goals since the Acadmic Senate voted against further restrictions on speech after a mass student strike and speech by Savio (UIC). However, only Regents were allowed to set the new policy and went back and forth with the group on new rules basically until the group had lost its popularity and strength (UIC).
Mario Savio being arrested
Consequences and Legacy
The Free Speech Movement at Berkeley was one of the first and most prominent student protests of the 60's, setting an example for other protests to come (Brinkley, 789). It began a "6 year war" on the Berkeley campus in which many students fought for their "rights" (such as setting up tables, distributing written ideas, raising money, and basically saying whatever they wanted to at rallies and demonstrations) (UIC). Berkeley had set a president of activism on campus which could turn messy at any minute, and when Ronald Reagan ran for governor of California he even mentioned trying to clean up "the mess at Berkeley" (OCF.Berkeley). All in all, the Free Speech Movement was significant because it was one of the first of its kind that involved riots, sit-ins, and even student arrests but served to empower student political activism and encourage students to stand up for their say and rights on campus, a popular theme throughout many of the liberal youth culture movements (OCF.Berkeley).
Bibliography
"The Berkeley Free Speech Movement." The Berkeley Free Speech Movement. N.p., 2004. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. <https://www.uic.edu/orgs/cwluherstory/jofreeman/sixtiesprotest/berkeley.htm>.
"Unforgettable Change: 1960s: Free Speech Movement & The New American Left." Unforgettable Change: 1960s: Free Speech Movement & The New American Left. Oakland Museum of California, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. <http://picturethis.museumca.org/timeline/unforgettable-change-1960s/free-speech-movement/info>.
"The Free Speech Movement and Its Impact on Berkeley." Free Speech Movement and the Impact at Berkeley. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. <https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~katster/Hist98p.htm>.
Brinkley, Alan. The Unfinished Nation. 6th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, 2010. Print.
"The Free Speech Movement." Calisphere. University of California, n.d. Web. 17 Mar. 2016. <http://www.calisphere.universityofcalifornia.edu/themed_collections/subtopic6b.html>.