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
Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Communiqué 2/12/1974
Cinque introduces SLA, discusses media-fascism and Hearst Empire, and demands Hearst establish free food giveaway programs as ransom for Patty Hearst. Patty Hearst speaks to assure family of her safety, discusses press distortions of SLA actions, and identifies herself as a prisoner of war.
Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Communiqué 2/21/1974
Cinque clarifies specifications of the free food program. Discusses Hearst wealth in attempt to compel Randolph Hearst to comply with SLA demands.
Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Communiqué 2/12/1974
Cinque introduces SLA, discusses media-fascism and Hearst Empire, and demands Hearst establish free food giveaway programs as ransom for Patty Hearst. Patty Hearst speaks to assure family of her safety, discusses press distortions of SLA actions, and identifies herself as a prisoner of war.
SLA Commentaries
Two commentaries about Patricia Hearst and the SLA regarding bank robberies, safe houses, and other actions.
Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA) Communiqué 2/21/74
Cinque clarifies SLA demands for the free food giveaway program. Discusses Hearst family wealth to compel Randolf Hearst to comply with SLA demands. Tape played at FBI press conference.
Tape purportedly made by six former Symbionese Federation members claiming to have left the Federation after the murder of Marcus Foster and with criticism the revolutionary violence of the SLA.
SLA Communiqué - 6/1/1974
Tape received by KPFK about the SLA leaving the Bay Area and the shootout at Mel's Sporting Goods in Los Angeles. References May 17th police murder of SLA members.
SLA: Berkeley Police - Hearst Press Conference
Interview with chief of Berkeley PD Detective Unit.
Hearst at a press conference, tape is played from Patty Hearst just after her kidnapping. Includes portions of KP 235.
SLA - Patty Hearst
About the murder of SLA members in Los Angeles, May 17, 1974.
SLA - Hearst Complies with Food Giveaway
Charles Gould, Publisher of SF Examiner speaks on behalf of Hearst Corporation announcing their plan to comply with the demands of the SLA regarding the food giveaway program.
Huey Says Panthers are Not Parties to Extortion
A letter from Huey P. Newton of the Black Panther Party to Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Hearst. The letter volunteers the Black Panthers to distribute the food as part of the bargain from the SLA to return Patricia Hearst to her family.