Berkeley Free Speech Movement, 1964-65

What was the Berkeley Free Speech Movement?

The Berkeley Free Speech Movement was formed by a group of students who challenged Berkeley University's regulations on free speech.

When did the Berkeley Free Speech Movement begin?

The Berkeley Free Speech Movement started in September 1964 and lasted for the academic year, ending in 1965.

Why did students at Berkeley protest?

In September 1964, students were banned from protesting on university grounds. The protests demanded the university reversed this ban and allowed freedom of speech.

What were the events at Berkeley?

There were 4 main events during the protests:

• ❖ Students ignored the ban and continued protesting. Some were suspended, and the remaining students congregated in the university's administration building demanding to be suspended too.
• ❖ The police were called and one student was arrested. The remaining students blocked the police from leaving for 32 hours. Eventually the students agreed to leave.
• ❖ After this, students created the Free Speech Movement to protest against the university preventing them from holding protests on campus. They produced thousands of leaflets and held many meetings.
• ❖ In November 1964, those students who had been suspended were charged with breaking university rules. The Free Speech Movement organised a sit-in in a university building, supported by 6,000 students. It took the police 12 hours to make 750 arrests.

What was the impact of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement?

University staff voted to allow protesting on campus but there were strict rules about how, when and where protests could be carried out.