Search Help

How does this work?
There are many ways to search the collections of the Freedom Archives. Below is a brief guide that will help you conduct effective searches. Note, anytime you search for anything in the Freedom Archives, the first results that appear will be our digitized items. Information for items that have yet to be scanned or yet to be digitized can still be viewed, but only by clicking on the show link that will display the hidden (non-digitized) items. If you are interested in accessing these non-digitized materials, please email info@freedomarchives.org.
Exploring the Collections without the Search Bar
Under the heading Browse By Collection, you’ll notice most of the Freedom Archives’ major collections. These collections have an image as well as a short description of what you’ll find in that collection. Click on that image to instantly explore that specific collection.
Basic Searching
You can always type what you’re looking for into the search bar. Certain searches may generate hundreds of results, so sometimes it will help to use quotation marks to help narrow down your results. For instance, searching for the phrase Black Liberation will generate all of our holdings that contain the words Black and Liberation, while searching for “Black Liberation” (in quotation marks) will only generate our records that have those two words next to each other.
Advanced Searching
The Freedom Archives search site also understands Boolean search logic. Click on this link for a brief tutorial on how to use Boolean search logic. Our search function also understands “fuzzy searches.” Fuzzy searches utilize the (*) and will find matches even when users misspell words or enter in only partial words for the search. For example, searching for liber* will produce results for liberation/liberate/liberates/etc.
Keyword Searches
You’ll notice that under the heading KEYWORDS, there are a number of words, phrases or names that describe content. Sometimes these are also called “tags.” Clicking on these words is essentially the same as conducting a basic search.

Search Results

Racism and the War on Drugs Racism and the War on Drugs
Date: 1/1/1996Call Number: PM 325Format: Cass A & BCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
In a panel discussion, several speakers express their views about how racism and the war on drugs are connected. Racism is found in every step of the criminal justice law enforcement process. Blacks and Hispanics are unfairly targeted in the war on drugs. The speakers advocate that federal law enforcement change, and that mandatory minimums, crack laws, and guideline sentences be revised.
Interview with Jim Gonzalez Interview with Jim Gonzalez
Date: 10/24/1989Call Number: CV 040AFormat: Cass AProducers: Chuy VarelaProgram: KPFACollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Interview with Jim Gonzalez on issues concerning the Latino community such as the grape boycott, INS raids, immigration rights, affordable housing in San Francisco, sponsorship for Latino community events and police brutality, specifically the beating of Dolores Huerta.
Know Injustice Rally Know Injustice Rally
Date: 9/21/1996Call Number: PM 329Format: Cass A & BProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: On The OutsideCollection: Political Prisoner Periodicals
Ingrid Turner, Pam Africa, and Angela Davis speaking at a Know Injustice rally, includes Corey West and members of Barrios Unidos speaking at a protest of Corcoran Prison.
Chain Gangs Chain Gangs
Date: 1/1/1996Call Number: PM 330Format: Cass A & BProducers: Prison Activist Resource CenterProgram: On The OutsideCollection: Prison Labor
Prisoner Michael Lamar Powell speaks and reads excerpts of his writing about the reinstatement of chain gangs in Alabama in 1995.
Carole Standing Elk & the American Indian Movement Carole Standing Elk & the American Indian Movement
Date: 10/1/1993Call Number: CV 043AFormat: Cass AProducers: KPFACollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Interview with Carole Standing Elk, a member of the American Indian Movement. She discusses prison rights, responsibility of tribal members, and the question of who is the American Indian Movement.
California Bear Flag Revolt California Bear Flag Revolt
Date: 6/19/1996Call Number: CV 045Format: Cass A & BProducers: KPFACollection: Chuy Varela Collection
A large protest against Governor Pete Wilson and the 150th commemoration of the California Bear Flag Revolt of 1846 - an uprising and occupation of Sonoma, then Mexican territory. Shouts from the protest: "Deport Wilson!" and "We didn't cross the border, the border crossed us!"
Mass Incarceration and Control Units in Prisons: Mind Control or Social Control? Mass Incarceration and Control Units in Prisons: Mind Control or Social Control?
Date: 10/21/1995Call Number: PM 336Format: Cass A & BProducers: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown (CEML)Collection: Committee to End the Marion Lockdown
Mind Control or Social Control? About closing the control units at Marion Prison. Nancy Kurshan of CEML (Committee to End the Marion Lockdown), Dr. Alan Berkman who has provided medical care for Black Liberation Army and Panther members as well as AIM activists at Wounded Knee in the 1970s. Berkman also speaks about being a former political prisoner, the prison system and control units as forms of social control which target revolutionary movements. Film segments about former LA gang member and Pelican Bay prisoner Sanyika Shakur. Transcript available for download.
California Latino Alcohol and Other Drugs Coalition Conference (Part 1) California Latino Alcohol and Other Drugs Coalition Conference (Part 1)
Date: 7/20/1994Call Number: CV 047Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Conference informing the Latino community about the problems of alcohol and other drugs. The participants explain the effectiveness of policymaking beginning at the grassroots level.
California Latino Alcohol and Other Drugs Coalition Conference (Part 2) California Latino Alcohol and Other Drugs Coalition Conference (Part 2)
Date: 7/20/1994Call Number: CV 048Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Begins with a speech by Sylvia Castillo on educating and empowering the community to become effective activists and policymakers. Followed by Jerry Tello who tells many stories to present cultural values to help strengthen the bond within the Latino community. Also a short interview with one of the conference coordinators and a short discussion of Ross Perot.
Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California Latino Alcohol Policy and Advocacy Action in California
Date: 7/19/1994Call Number: CV 051Format: Cass A & BCollection: Chuy Varela Collection
Speech by Sylvia Castillo on the importance of being a policymaker, even without a credential. Castillo encourages people to use their history to become effective policymakers as well as teach others in their community to do the same. (First part same as CV 048) Presentation by William Vega from his study on "Perinatal Substance Exposure in California," which examines the drug and alcohol used before delivery by women. Vega explains the results of his research and answers questions.