Mario Savio and The Free Speech Movement

Finally, a short term agreement was made, and Jack Weinberg was released and cleared of all charges. United Front dissolved and the Free Speech Movement was created. 

Sproul Hall Sit-in

While the FSM thought the university had to follow the First Amendment, the administration maintained it’s right to discipline students for any on-campus advocacy. So on December 2nd, around 2000 students occupied Sproul Hall, the administration building. They brought their sleeping bags and were ready to stay there for as long as necessary. In the middle of the night  California Governor Pat Brown called on the police. At 3:00 am people started getting arrested. It took 12 hours to arrest 773 people. Bail money was raised and the students were quickly brought back to school.

University Meeting

University President Kerr cancelled classes on Monday and held a University meeting, where they hoped to end the conflict. However, by now one third of the departmental chairman didn’t support the old rules.

Mario Savio tried to walk up to the podium, but he was dragged away by police officers. A majority of the audience of 15,000 erupted in anger, chanting “Let him speak! Let him speak!” and some rushed the stage, promptly getting tackled by the police. After everyone settled down, Savio was allowed to speak, and he invited everyone to a rally at the Administration meeting. 

Many members of the faculty spoke at the rally, and the next day an Academic Senate meeting was held, and they voted for no restrictions on the content of speech or advocacy. 

Legacy

Today, it seems odd that the First Amendment didn’t apply to college campuses. Political activity is very popular at colleges, and it’s all thanks to Mario Savio and the rest of the Free Speech Movement for fighting for these rights. He is an inspiration for many young political activists. We may think the powers that be are too strong, but if we keep fighting for what is right and what we believe in, we can make a difference. Mario Savio never gave up, never backed down, and neither should we.