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
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The Dragon
Periodical in support of the SLA printed monthly by the Bay Area Research Collective.
Documents
Weather Underground February 20, 1974
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.
Message from the People to the SLA
Author: Members of the Poor Oppressed Communities of the Bay AreaDate: 3/31/1974Volume Number: 31-MarFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This letter from the poor oppressed communities of the Bay Area was written March 31, 1974. It addresses demands from the Symbionese Liberation Army to help their communities after the Hearst donations.
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.
Letter condeming Marcus Foster death
Publisher: Vietnam Veterans Against the War & Winter Solider OrganizationDate: 1/14/1974Volume Number: 14-JanFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A letter from Vietnam Veterans Against the War denouncing the assasination of Marcus Foster. However, the letter does comment on the unjust imprisonment of Joseph Remiro and Russell Little because of the assassination.
Some Thoughts on the S.L.A
This pamphlet by the Bay Area Research Collective analyzes the successes and mistakes of the Symbionese Liberation Army in chronological order.
Free the Oakland II
This flyer argues for the release of Joe Remiro and Russell Little from prison because they are being held unconstitutionally.
Dragon
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 2 SeptemberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: The Dragon
Table of Contents: Introduction, Analysis of the Trial of Little and Remiro, Statement from Little and Remiro 1/18/74, Remiro and Little's Trial Statements: 4/4/75 & 4/18/75, Russ Little's Statement at Their Sentencing, Letter from Joe Remiro 8/16/75, On the Trials of Gary Garrison and Cameron Bishop, The Correct Handling of Communiques, New World Liberation Front Statement on Popeye Jackson, Peoples' Forces NWLF Respond to BARC/Orphans Criticism, Peoples' Forces NWLF Open Letter to Prisoners, A Letter to the NWLF, BARC Critique of Peoples' Forces NWLF, Jonathan Jackson/Sam Melville NWLF Communique, Poem from a Locked-Down Comrade
Dragon
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 3 OctoberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: The Dragon
Table of Contents: BARC Finances, These Days, Statement from Bill and Emily Harris, Wendy Yoshimura, from Prison, Support from Martin Sostre, Network Against Psychiatric Assault: Demonstration, Communique: George Jackson Brigade, New World Liberation Front: Communique, Coalinga bombing, Poem, Front de Liberation du Quebec, Orphans of Amerika: Open Letter to NWLF, Four Trials, Psychiatric Assault, Behavior Modification = Mind Control, George Jackson Brigade Bombs Washington State Department of Corrections in Olympia