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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
    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.
For the Symbionese Liberation Army For the Symbionese Liberation Army
Author: A Sister in the WeatherundergroundDate: 3/3/1974Volume Number: 3-MarFormat: PoemCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
A poem written by "a sister in the Weather Underground" to the Symbionese Liberation Army. The poem warns of who the real terrorists are and supports revolutionary struggle.
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.
Communique to all Media from the Organic Army of Revolution Communique to all Media from the Organic Army of Revolution
Author: PulquePublisher: Organic Army of RevolutionFormat: CommuniqueCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This is a communique from the Organic Army of Revolution that appears to be a parody of communiques written by revolutionary groups of the 1960s and 1970s. The communique comments on Cinque of the Symbionese Liberation Army and gives directions to members concerning their next revolutionary move.
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.
Those Who Do Nothing Make No Mistakes Those Who Do Nothing Make No Mistakes
Author: Martin Sostre & Weather UndergroundPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet is a response by Martin Sostre and the Weather Underground to the shootings of SLA members on May 17, 1974 in Los Angeles. Martin commemorates actions taken by the SLA and mourns the loss of those members. The Weather Underground also celebrates the SLA and pushes to continue the revolutionary armed struggle.
Dragon Supplement Dragon Supplement
Author: New World Liberation FrontPublisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveDate: 11/3/1975Volume Number: 3-NovFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet by the New World Liberation Front is a response to the Sinai Peace Accords and calls for all revolutionary groups to join in an armed struggle against the government and oil companies.
Some Thoughts on the S.L.A Some Thoughts on the S.L.A
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveFormat: PamphletCollection: Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA)
This pamphlet by the Bay Area Research Collective analyzes the successes and mistakes of the Symbionese Liberation Army in chronological order.
Dragon Dragon
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 4 NovemberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: The Dragon
Table of Contents: Introduction, Letter from Emily Harris, October 27, 1975, Lolita Lebron and Blanca Canales, Susan Saze Statement, June 9, 1975, On Being Underground -- Katherine Power and Susan Saxe, Colation Against Psychiatric Assault: Demonstration, A Collective Letter to the Women's Movement from the Women of the Weather Underground, WUO Women's Brigade bombs Dept of H.E.W., March 1974, Poem, Statement from Sisters of the Symbionese Liberation Army, October 21, 1975, Militant Women: a Brief History, Open Letter to the Fighting Forces, Puerto Rican Solidarity, New World Liberation Front Communique: Fort Ord
Dragon Dragon
Publisher: Bay Area Research CollectiveYear: 1975Volume Number: No. 5 DecemberFormat: PeriodicalCollection: The Dragon
Table of Contents: Letter from the Smybionese Liberation Army December/75, Our Back Pages: B.A.R.C., Letters, Nam Brothers: Ashanti, Black Liberation Army, The Weather Underground Organization film, Blurbs, Politics in Command: Weather Underground, Women's Gun Pamphlet: book review, New World Liberation Front, structure, New Worl Liberation Front, community health strategy, The Zapata Unit: B.A.R.C., An Open Letter to the People, the Zapata Unit, and New Dawn.