Free Speech Movement (Berkeley, Calif.)

The Free Speech Movement (FSM) of Berkeley, California was a series of large and student-led protests on the UC Berkeley campus during late 1964 and early 1965. At issue were the students’ rights to engage in on-campus political activities, and for the University to recognize more general rights to free speech and academic freedom.

From the guide to the Free Speech Movement of Berkeley, California Collection, c. 1964, (Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections)

Chronology of the Free Speech Movement

September 1964

• 14: Dean Towle announces that University regulations prohibiting advocacy of political causes by student organizations at Bancroft and Telegraph Avenues will henceforth be "strictly enforced".
• 15: All active student organizations lodge a protest and form the United Front, which presents a list of demands to Dean Towle.
• 21: Towle "clarifies" regulations. She distinguishes between advocating and mounting political actions and prohibits the latter.
• 27: United Front holds all-night vigil on Sproul Hall steps.
• 28: Chancellor Strong, during a University meeting, "re-clarifies" the regulations to permit advocating "yes" or "no" on political questions. United Front pickets meeting.
• 28 - 30 : Test-violations of the regulations by Campus CORE, University Friends of SNCC, SLATE (student political party), the Young Socialist Alliance, Students for a Democratic Society, DuBois Club.
• 30: Noon: a representative of the Dean's Office approaches 5 students manning an SNCC table and asks them to leave. The students refuse and receive summons to see Dean Williams in Sproul Hall at 3:00. 3:00 p.m. : 400 students go to Williams' office and demand to be included in the summons. Williams cancels appointment. 700 students sit-in at Sproul Hall until 3 a.m. At 11:45 p.m. Williams announces indefinite suspension of 5 students, plus 3 more suspected of leading the sit-in.

October 1964

• 1: During a rally on the Sproul Hall steps protesting suspension of 8 students, Jack Weinberg is arrested at CORE table for "trespassing." He is taken to a police car parked in front of Sproul Hall, which is spontaneously surrounded by students. A general protest with extemporaneous speeches from atop the police car continues for 32 hours.
• 2: At 5 p.m., 500 police arrive on campus. Number of demonstrators increases to 3,000. At 7:30 p.m., President Kerr and 8 representatives of the student demonstrators sign a pact.
• 3 - 4 : Student groups combine as the Free Speech Movement (FSM).
• 5: First FSM open meeting on Sproul Hall steps.
• 7 - 13 : Chancellor's Study Committee on Political Freedom (SCPF) formed. First hearings begin on the 13th. 45 student representatives demand equal student representation.
• 14: FSM issues an ultimatum that the administration show good faith on the "Pact of Oct. 2nd" by Oct. 15th.
• 15: An emergency meeting of the Academic Senate creates the Ad Hoc Committee on Student Conduct (CSC) to hear the cases of the 8 suspended students. The Chancellor reconfigures the SCPF, now to be called the Committee on Campus Political Activity (CCPA).
• 16: Regents meet at Davis and refuse to hear delegation from the FSM.
• 20 - Nov. 7 : CCPA hearings.

November 1964

• 7: CCPA deadlocks in negotiations on free speech policy.
• 9: FSM begins manning tables again at Bancroft and Telegraph Avenues. Names of 75 students manning tables are taken by representative of the Dean's office. 800 students sign a statement of complicity in the violations.
• 10: T.A.'s and graduate students set up tables in front of Sproul Hall in violation of regulations. 200 TA's sign statements that they violated regulations.
• 12: Ratification of a provisional constitution for a Union of University-Employed Graduate Students. Publication of Rossman Report.
• 20: Regents meet at Berkeley. FSM holds mass rally and quiet vigil during meeting. Regent's discount the recommendations of the Heyman Report and vote to increase administrative and police presence on the campus.
• 24: Chancellor Strong announces new rules for student political activity. The Academic Senate defeats by a narrow margin a motion supporting FSM position.
• 28: Letters initiating new disciplinary action arrive at the residences of Mario Savio and Arthur Goldberg.
• 29: FSM Steering Committee holds an emergency meeting and issues a statement demanding the charges be dropped.
• 30: Chancellor rejects the demand. T.A.'s announce a meeting to "plan for a T.A. strike" to be held tomorrow.

December 1964

• 1: FSM issues an ultimatum and the GCC announces a strike for Friday, Dec. 4.
• 2: Approximately 1,000 persons pack 4 floors of Sproul Hall following a huge rally in the plaza between Sproul and the Student Union. As the sit-in develops offices are closed and employees sent home. Most of the demonstrators settle down for a long night.
• 3: At 3:45 a.m., Gov. Brown orders police officers to begin arresting demonstrators. It takes 12 hours to clear the building. Faculty members raise $8,500 for bail bond fees. At 1:00 p.m. more than 800 professors and instructors meet in Wheeler Auditorium. They pass two resolutions supporting the FSM position.
• 7: Arraignment is postponed until Dec. 14th for 768 arrested demonstrators. At 11:00 a.m. approximately 16,000 persons gather in the Greek Theater for a convocation called by the Council of Department Chairmen. President Kerr formally accepts the proposals presented by the Chairmen. 10,000 student jam the plaza at Sproul Hall after the convocation and reject by acclamation the proposal Kerr has just accepted.
• 8: Academic Senate passes a resolution in favor of FSM goals and the fight continues.
• 18: Regents reject Academic Senate solution.

January 1965

• 2: Chancellor Strong replaced by Martin Meyerson.
• 3: Meyerson institutes new regulations for political activity on the Berkeley campus which meet the demands of the FSM.

From the guide to the Free Speech Movement records, 1936-1969, (bulk 1964-1965), (The Bancroft Library. University Archives.)