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Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement

The Free Speech Collection is primarily comprised of audio recordings produced by independent journalistColin Edwards from 1964-1967. Edwards was a journalist working with Canadian Broadcasting, the BBC and Pacifica Radio among others. His work represents a comprehensive account of the major perspectives, ideas, events and figures of the Free Speech Movement, the Sproul hall sit-in and the subsequent changesconcerning the rights of students to engage in political activity on the UC-Berkeley campus. These changes, best known as the December 8th Resolutions, were put to the test in 1966 during the “Little Free Speech Movement” in which students’ political rights were again brought into question.This part of the collection focuses on the November 30th, 1966 confrontation between anti-war demonstrators and a Navy recruiting table that was set up in the student union building. Many students and non-students were arrested and disciplined, and students responded with a strike that disrupted campus activities. Ultimately, UC president Clark Kerr was dismissed by newly-elected Governor Reagan and the Board of Regents for being “too soft” onprotesters.

One of the strongest aspects of thiscollection is Colin’s ability to speak with all the major players: students,professors, administrators, local political and police representatives as wellas members of the corporate media. This provides a vibrant context with whichto understand the movement and its lasting effects on the political culture ofthe UC Berkeley campus. It also shifts the focus of the movement fromwell-known figures to people whose names that we might not know but played anequally important role in the success of the movement. In addition to hisinterviews, the collection also features speeches and rallies held by the FSM,Student Senate Debates in which major FSM issues were decided and even audiofrom Mario Savio's birthday party.

This is one of the definitive audiocollections of the Free Speech Movement and represents an important addition tothe dominant narrative that limits the free speech movement and itsaccomplishments to the work of a couple of dedicated students. The audioprovides evidence of the significant linkages between the civil rightsstruggles being waged by African-Americans and the Free Speech Movement, themass nature of the protests and the true politically diversity of student andfaculty participants.  

The FSM is equally as relevant todayas it was in the 1960s. Check out two of our interns' blogs about thecontemporary relevance of this collection:

Documents

Dr. Roger Stanier, Brian Mulloney, December 3 Rally
Dr. Roger Stanier, Brian Mulloney, December 3 Rally
Date: 12/3/1964Call Number: CE 674Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Interviews with biology professor Roger Stanier and graduate student organizer Brian Mulloney. Stanier reads from and discusses a faculty telegram to Governor Brown condemning the presence of the California Highway Patrol on campus and demanding the prompt release of arrested students and amnesty for students threatened with suspension or dismissal. Brian Mulloney, a member of the Graduate Coordinating Council and FSM Steering Committee, discusses the history of restrictions on student political activity particularly in relation to civil rights group Campus CORE. He discusses the graduate student walkout and philosophy and mathematics professors striking, as well as a planned solidarity action by Sacramento State students. Following the interviews (around 30:00) is several minutes of recording from a campus rally protesting the previous night’s arrests. Students sing “Can’t Turn Me Round” and “We Shall Overcome”
Faculty Rally on Obscenity Case March 24th 1965
Faculty Rally on Obscenity Case March 24th 1965
Date: 3/24/1965Call Number: CE 722Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
This recording is taken from a faculty rally following the banning of the UC student publication, the Spider. Mario Savio is the first speaker and he talks about what’s at stake concerning this issue. The following speakers are all faculty members and talk about a wide range of topics including the responsibility of faculty in protecting students’ rights, the need for student gains to be codified, the need to not lose perspective of larger issues including the civil rights struggle in Selma, various perspectives on the filthy speech movement, and that student actions demonstrate that students care about the university community.
4/23/65 Rally: Coalition Politics and the Student Bill of Rights. Interviews with Mario Savio and Charles Flynn 4/23/65 Rally: Coalition Politics and the Student Bill of Rights. Interviews with Mario Savio and Charles Flynn
Date: 4/23/1965Call Number: CE 725Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Rally speakers include student organizers Brad Cleaveland and Fred Bauer discussing a proposed student bill of rights, the relative merits of coalition building and direct action, and the desire to represent all students. Detailed discussion of the fate of the Tussman Proposal, an experimental curriculum plan. A student speaks on behalf of the University Reform Movement, a coalition organization. Event announcements including details of CORE’s restaurant pickets in Oakland. The Freedom Singers perform “We Shall Overcome” and there is a chant for “Freedom Now.” Interview with Mario Savio who discusses his perspective on the Filthy Speech Movement and the lack of­­ due process in student discipline, as well as the media’s representation of him. Interview with Charles Flynn of anti-FSM University Students for Law and Order, who discusses his changing views and working with FSM students to propose a disciplinary court with student jury.
Students and Faculty Defend Free Speech: Administration Retreat Students and Faculty Defend Free Speech: Administration Retreat
Publisher: Independent Socialist ClubDate: 11/14/1966Volume Number: 14-NovFormat: FlyerCollection: Colin Edwards Free Speech Movement
Update on free speech activism, David Friedman case, Dave McCullough case, and campus rallies.