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Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)

The Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) was a California leftist revolutionary group active from 1973 through the mid 1970s.  A primary goal of the organization was the “gaining of freedom and self-determination and independence for all their people and races.” The SLA utilized tactics of expropriation, direct action and armed propaganda to stimulate public awareness and action around issues of poverty, housing, racism, women’s rights, and prison issues. Despite undertaking a number of controversial and sometimes polarizing actions, one of the foremost successes of the SLA was forcing the Hearst family to give away millions of dollars worth of food from Safeway grocery stores to impoverished communities in the Bay Area.  

Highlights of our collection include scanned copies of the Dragon, a rare periodical produced by the Bay Area Research Collective in support of the SLA; original SLA communiqués, statements and publications; and press releases, flyers and statements from other Bay Area radical groups concerning SLA actions and ideas. Additionally, we have hundreds of articles taken from local Bay Area news sources, all pertaining to the SLA and the group’s activities. Our collection of paper documents is supplemented by our media holdings primarily derived from local recordings and programs. These include memorial shows, audio from rallies and news programs and taped communiqués.  

Subcollections

  • The Dragon
    The Dragon
    Periodical in support of the SLA printed monthly by the Bay Area Research Collective.

Documents

Superintendent's Bulletin Superintendent's Bulletin
Publisher: Oakland Unified School DistrictYear: 1973Volume Number: Nov/DecFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
The Superintendent's Bulletin is a pamphlet that is a tribute to Marcus Foster after his assassination. It contains his achievements and postive remarks left by colleagues, relatives, and his employees.
Weather Underground February 20, 1974 Weather Underground February 20, 1974
Author: Bernadine DohrnPublisher: Weather UndergroundDate: 2/20/1974Volume Number: 20-FebFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet is from the Weather Underground and commends the SLA for kidnapping Patricia Hearst in order to give food to the poor people. Bernadine Dohrn offers four points in response to the war between the rich and the poor.
The Last SLA Statement: an interview with Russ Joe Bill & Emily The Last SLA Statement: an interview with Russ Joe Bill & Emily
Authors: Emily Harris, Bill Harris, Russell Little, Joseph RemiroPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1976Format: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
An interview with Emily Harris, Bill Harris, Russell Little and Joseph Remiro who were all members of the Symbionese Liberation Army. The interview follows the history of the SLA from the formation of the group in August 1973 until its declared end in 1976. The interview comments on the assassination of Marcus Foster, the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst, the Hibernia Bank Robbery, and the shootout on May 17th, 1974. The members also comment on their views of future revolutionary movements.
The Chino Escape Case: An Analysis of a Government Frame-Up The Chino Escape Case: An Analysis of a Government Frame-Up
Publisher: Venceremos PublicationsFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet describes the happenings of the Chino Escape Case. It gives biographies of those who were involved in the case: Doug Burt, Jean Hobson, Andrea Holman, Robert Seabock, and Ron Beaty. The pamphlet defends Burt, Hobson, Holman and Seabock claiming that they did not assist Beaty in escaping. Also, it discusses the involvement of Venceremos in the case.
Those Who Do Nothing Make No Mistakes Those Who Do Nothing Make No Mistakes
Author: Martin Sostre & Weather UndergroundPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet is a response by Martin Sostre and the Weather Underground to the shootings of SLA members on May 17, 1974 in Los Angeles. Martin commemorates actions taken by the SLA and mourns the loss of those members. The Weather Underground also celebrates the SLA and pushes to continue the revolutionary armed struggle.
Dragon Supplement Dragon Supplement
Author: New World Liberation FrontPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveDate: 11/3/1975Volume Number: 3-NovFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet by the New World Liberation Front is a response to the Sinai Peace Accords and calls for all revolutionary groups to join in an armed struggle against the government and oil companies.
Some Thoughts on the S.L.A Some Thoughts on the S.L.A
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet by the Bay Area Research Collective analyzes the successes and mistakes of the Symbionese Liberation Army in chronological order.