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Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement

The Free Speech Collection is primarily comprised of audio recordings produced by independent journalistColin Edwards from 1964-1967. Edwards was a journalist working with Canadian Broadcasting, the BBC and Pacifica Radio among others. His work represents a comprehensive account of the major perspectives, ideas, events and figures of the Free Speech Movement, the Sproul hall sit-in and the subsequent changesconcerning the rights of students to engage in political activity on the UC-Berkeley campus. These changes, best known as the December 8th Resolutions, were put to the test in 1966 during the “Little Free Speech Movement” in which students’ political rights were again brought into question.This part of the collection focuses on the November 30th, 1966 confrontation between anti-war demonstrators and a Navy recruiting table that was set up in the student union building. Many students and non-students were arrested and disciplined, and students responded with a strike that disrupted campus activities. Ultimately, UC president Clark Kerr was dismissed by newly-elected Governor Reagan and the Board of Regents for being “too soft” onprotesters.

One of the strongest aspects of thiscollection is Colin’s ability to speak with all the major players: students,professors, administrators, local political and police representatives as wellas members of the corporate media. This provides a vibrant context with whichto understand the movement and its lasting effects on the political culture ofthe UC Berkeley campus. It also shifts the focus of the movement fromwell-known figures to people whose names that we might not know but played anequally important role in the success of the movement. In addition to hisinterviews, the collection also features speeches and rallies held by the FSM,Student Senate Debates in which major FSM issues were decided and even audiofrom Mario Savio's birthday party.

This is one of the definitive audiocollections of the Free Speech Movement and represents an important addition tothe dominant narrative that limits the free speech movement and itsaccomplishments to the work of a couple of dedicated students. The audioprovides evidence of the significant linkages between the civil rightsstruggles being waged by African-Americans and the Free Speech Movement, themass nature of the protests and the true politically diversity of student andfaculty participants.  

The FSM is equally as relevant todayas it was in the 1960s. Check out two of our interns' blogs about thecontemporary relevance of this collection:

Documents

Segments of 1st Part of KPFA program on November 30th UC disturbance Segments of 1st Part of KPFA program on November 30th UC disturbance
Call Number: CE 748Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsProgram: KPFACollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Audio from the demonstration after the November 30th incident involving students protesting a Navy recruitment table. Mario Savio and other students try to decide whether to occupy the building past its closing time and how to deal with a demonstration divided by police. Police begin making arrests and an administrator talks about having an open forum. Speed changes partway through.
November 30th Revolt: Participant reflections November 30th Revolt: Participant reflections
Call Number: CE 749Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Interview with Leo Bach, general manager of the Berkeley Free Press, who had been in the downstairs of the student union on 11/30/66. He describes the series of events that unfolded around student opposition to a Navy recruitment table, police violence (including encouraging violence by football players against progressive students), and arrests. Interviews with several students who were present and describe their experiences with police violence and the variety of police forces and agencies present, including the FBI. Leo Bach’s interview plays at 7½ ips while the rest of the tape is 3¾.
Main Floor ASUC November 30 1966 Reel 1 Main Floor ASUC November 30 1966 Reel 1
Date: 11/30/1966Call Number: CE 753Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Discussion from within the main floor of the ASUC building during the November 30th, 1966 demonstration. About twelve people, mostly students and one faculty member, discuss the possibility of a strike the following day and how to organize it. Most students are in favor of the strike and talk about how to set up picket lines as well as involve the TAs and faculty. Has many splices that can break.
Main Floor ASUC November 30 1966 Reel 2 Main Floor ASUC November 30 1966 Reel 2
Date: 11/30/1966Call Number: CE 754Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
More discussion from within the demonstration in the ASUC building on November 30th, 1966. Students and faculty continue to talk about the possibility of striking the following day. Professor Henkin tried to call a vote on postponing the strike, which students called a "cheap demagogic trick." They discuss the Mulford Act arrests of non-students and the status of non-students. Students find out that ASUC voted to strike if two demands were not met before the following morning. Speakers who are opposed to the idea of a strike are given the stage to talk.
Main Floor Discussion Main Floor Discussion
Date: 11/30/1966Call Number: CE 755Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Parts of Main Floor Reel 2, beginning with the speaker who is a non-student talking about the problems with admissions, ending slightly after the last speaker from Main Floor Reel 2, with less than a minute of the moderator's voice.
Main Floor ASUC November 30 1966 Reel 3 Main Floor ASUC November 30 1966 Reel 3
Date: 11/30/1966Call Number: CE 756Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
More discussion from within the demonstration in the ASUC building on November 30th, 1966. Students and faculty continue to talk about the possibility of striking the following day. Speakers discuss how leaders have been singled out, the campus issues that students disagree with, the faculty's inaction, the willingness of graduate students to help with a strike, as well as reasons not to strike. The third speaker announces that bail has been set at $3300 per person for the three non-students who had been arrested. He presents the three demands for the strike: No police on campus, amnesty for participants in the demonstration, and student power on campus.