dec 2, 1964 - Free Speech Movement
Sit-in
Description:
This was done to protest and negotiate until they won what they saw as their right to hold protests and speak about anything they wanted to on university grounds
Weinberg and Mario Savio (who had impressed his fellow students with his speeches during the earlier protest) were leading members of the movement, which included a wide variety of student groups
Members of the FSM included those with conservative and moderate views as well as those with radical ideas
The FSM produced thousands of leaflets and held many meetings and rallies to gain support
Members made badges and Christmas cards to fund the campaign; they also asked for donations - at its peak, nearly 14,000 (around half) of Berkley’s students supported FSM
At the end of November, however, despite being told they would not be punished, four of the students who had originally been suspended were charged with breaking university rules in leading the earlier protests
In response, the FSM organised a rally and sit-in of the administration building on 2nd December, which was supported by around 6,000 students
Police arrested the protestors, but it took them 12 hours to make 750 arrests, as the students refused to leave
A few days later, staff votes strongly in favour for there to be no limits on the protests allowed on the campus
On the face of it, the Free Speech Movement had won, and students were allowed to use university grounds for political protests and debates
However, there were very detailed rules about how, when and where protests could be carried out
The students who had been arrested were all convicted and fined - the leader were sentenced to between 1 and 4 months in prison
Added to timeline:
USA 1945 - 1974
Date:
