The Free Speech Movement at Berkeley: Fall 1964

The Free Speech Movement at Berkeley became a catalyst for university protests across the country. Originally fueled by the activism of the Civil Rights Movement(although later manifested in protest to the Vietnam War), the Free Speech movement demanded students’ right to express their political views on their university’s campus. I will focus on the turbulent fall semester of 1964.

            In 1958, Clark Kerr was promoted to university president at Berkeley. Amongst the activism of the times, Kerr banned political activity on campus. In concession, he authorized the use of a strip at Bancroft and Telegraph for political activity, so students so students regularly distributed political literature at this strip. However, upon recognizing in 1964 that the supposed transfer of the land to the city never went through, Kerr prohibited further action. In September 1964, Dean of Students Katherine Towle forbade political action at Bancroft and Telegraph. Upon recognizing that she did not have the power to reverse the ruling, 18 student groups formed the United Front and protested by setting up tables at not only their regular strip, but also in Sproul Plaza. When tablers were summoned to the Dean’s office, 400 students occupied the administration building. The next day, tables were set up yet again, and Berkeley alumnus Jack Weinburg was arrested for denying the police identification. Upon his arrest, 3000 students surrounded the cop car and prevented it from moving for 32 hours. It was not until after another occupation of the administration building (led by Mario Savio) and request of the governor that Kerr agreed to meet with the United Front. On October 2^nd, a pact was signed and students left Sproul Plaza.

            The United Front dispanded and formed the FSM, composed of the Executive Committee (to call the shots) and the Steering Committee (to decide on policies for student groups). The Campus Committee on Political Activity of students, faculty and administration formed in order to come to an agreement on campus policies. After three weeks of negotiation, the committee was unable to come to a consensus about the right of students to advocate illegal off-campus activities. Thus, on November 9^th, tabling in Sproul Plaza restarted under the Steering Committee, which caused division within the FSM. On November 20^th, the Regents proposed to revise the campus restrictions to allow political activity except for solicitation of illegal off campus activities, but also implied that action would be taken against groups that had violated the previous restrictions after September 30^th. However, students were not fuming until the administration sent letters to four student leaders that they had violated university rules with October demonstrations. On December 2^nd, 2000 people invaded the administration building, leading to the arrest of 735 students. After Kerr’s proposals to end the conflict were rejected, a rally in Sproul Plaza was organized, featuring faculty members speaking on behalf of the rights of the students. The next day the Academic Senate voted to end all speech regulations on campus.