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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

Revolution? -- Or Education Through the Media Revolution? -- Or Education Through the Media
Author: Bernard R. SmallwoodDate: 2/19/1974Volume Number: 19-FebFormat: ArticleCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This article comments on the kidnapping of Patricia Hearst and the role of mass media in meeting the left's demands.
Message from the People to the SLA 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.
Press Release: California Refused to Extradite SLA's Defreeze Press Release: California Refused to Extradite SLA's Defreeze
Publisher: The Black Panther Intercommunal News ServiceDate: 4/18/1974Volume Number: 18-AprFormat: Press ReleaseCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
Press release written by the Black Panther Party stating that Donald Defreeze of the Symbionese Liberation Army is working with the State of California in a conspiracy against the Black Panthers.
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.
An Open Letter to the People and all Combat Units of the "New World Liberation Front (NWLF)" An Open Letter to the People and all Combat Units of the "New World Liberation Front (NWLF)"
Publisher: Comat Unit Four of the Black Liberation ArmyFormat: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This letter from Combat Unit Four of the Black Liberation Army addresses the combat units of the New World Liberation Front. It calls for all combat units to unite and meet violent governmental opposition with the use of arms.
Free the SLA Free the SLA
Author: SLAFormat: StatementCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This statement written from the "underground" critiques the current revolutionary groups and provides directions for how the Left should continue. Its idea to unite the masses includes building a non-racist movement, incorporating the ideology of feminism into all theory and practice, and creating organizations capable of surviving repression from oppositional forces.
Open Letter to Mrs. Jaqueline Foster Open Letter to Mrs. Jaqueline Foster
Format: CorrespondenceCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This letter is written to Jacqueline Foster, wife of the assasinated Marcus Foster. It gives various reasons for his assasination.
Popeye Jackson Assasinated Popeye Jackson Assasinated
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveFormat: FlyerCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This flyer announces the assasination of both Popeye Jackson and Sally Voye.
Our Guerrilla Forces: SLA Flyer Our Guerrilla Forces: SLA Flyer
Format: FlyerCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A flyer with a poem on the back calling for union of all guerrilla forces. Also, the poem grieves for the loss of the six members of the SLA slain in Los Angeles.
Fight The Set-Up Fight The Set-Up
Author: Orphans of AmerikaPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveDate: 6/11/1975Volume Number: 11-JunFormat: FlyerCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This flyer discredits a communique sent out by someone claiming to be the new World Liberation Front.