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Welcome to the Freedom Archives' Digital Search Engine.The Freedom Archives contains over 12,000 hours of audio and video recordings which date from the late-1960s to the mid-90s and chronicle the progressive history of the Bay Area, the United States, and international movements. We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings. Our collection includes weekly news, poetry, music programs; in-depth interviews and reports on social and cultural issues; numerous voices from behind prison walls; diverse activists; and pamphlets, journals and other materials from many radical organizations and movements.

Oakland Induction Center

During the Vietnam War young male draftees would arrive at the Oakland Induction Center on Clay Street for processing and  physical exams. Throughout this period, anti-war activists would conduct protests outside the Induction Center. Much of our collection centers on street reporting from Colin Edwards during Stop the Draft Week 1967. In California, Stop the Draft Week organizers led 3000 marchers to the Oakland Induction Center on October 16, 1967. When marchers refused police orders to leave, police attacked them with nightsticks, injuring 20. On the second day, demonstrators returned to the Induction Center, and this time 97 were arrested. On the third day, 10,000 protesters arrived, this time retreating in orderly fashion but also successfully blocking streets as they departed.This collection also includes coverage of the mutiny on the Coral Sea, anti-war demonstrations and speeches on the UC Berkeley campus, audio excerpts from a protest at Port Chicago and other anti-war content.

Documents

Rally April 23, 1968 Reel 2 Rally April 23, 1968 Reel 2
Date: 4/23/1968Call Number: CE 926Volume Number: Reel 2Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Details a police stand-off with protesters, as well as accounts of the worsening systemic conditions and the severity of both police response and legal charges.
Anti-War Rally April 27th 1968 Reel 1 Anti-War Rally April 27th 1968 Reel 1
Date: 4/27/1968Call Number: CE 927Volume Number: Reel 1Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
This recording follows a march against the Vietnam War (in memory of Martin Luther King). Admiral Truth: Discusses political lies, the right to national self-determination, speaks out against the draft and neo-colonialism. Includes the lead-in to the Muhammad Ali speech on the second tape.
Phone-in report from Oakland Induction Center Phone-in report from Oakland Induction Center
Date: 4/23/1968Call Number: CE 925Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
A summation of the events of a demonstration held on April 23, 1968 in front of the Oakland Induction Center. This tape details police tactics that include the targeting of leaders of the anti-War movement based purely on identification alone in an attempt to suppress the movement.
Joan Baez Arrest Joan Baez Arrest
Date: 10/16/1967Call Number: CE 905Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Includes a brief interview with Joan Baez following her participation in civil disobedience against U.S. military draft policy as well as audio of Joan Baez leading protesters in song as the police advance.
Oakland Induction Center KPFA Coverage Oakland Induction Center KPFA Coverage
Publisher: KPFA RadioDate: 10/17/1967Call Number: CE 906Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
With coverage beginning at 7am with a news broadcast, this details demonstrations of protest against the Vietnam War signified by individuals attempting to turn in their draft cards. This protest was also met with police brutality by both the Oakland Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, as well as a businessman attempting to affect citizens arrest on protesters attempting to turn in their draft cards.
Additions/ Oakland Induction Center Oct 17 1967 Additions/ Oakland Induction Center Oct 17 1967
Date: 10/17/1967Call Number: CE 913Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
A clash between peaceful protesters and the Oakland police, as well as other law enforcement agents deployed to repress protests at the Oakland Induction Center.
Oakland Induction Center Oakland Induction Center
Date: 10/17/1967Call Number: CE 907Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Starts with teach-in on October 16th on the UC Berkeley campus. A narration of the events that led to the closing of the UC Berkeley campus and the response by students who felt their right to freedom of speech had been taken away. Then proceeds to describe the October 17th Oakland Induction protest and the response by police, and the initial clash between demonstrators and Oakland Police. Including interviews with people (including a doctor) brutalized by police. Other incidents include a man crashing his car into demonstrators.
Oakland Induction Center Arrests Reel 1 Oakland Induction Center Arrests Reel 1
Date: 10/17/1968Call Number: CE 929Volume Number: Reel 1Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
The arrival of inductees and officers at the Oakland Induction Center are met with a daunting line of demonstrators and require a police escort. Colin Edwards narrates the back-and-forth between the different groups.
Protest At Port Chicago: Anatomy of a Non-Violent Demonstration and Police Reaction Protest At Port Chicago: Anatomy of a Non-Violent Demonstration and Police Reaction
Date: 10/21/1967Call Number: CE 934Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Contains audio of a protest at Port Chicago, Concord, CA, a large supplier of munitions to the imperialist campaign in Vietnam. Peaceful vigils that had occurred there previously had been attacked by locals opposed to anti-imperialist protests. The demonstration recorded on this tape was similarly set upon by police, and even reporters were accosted as law enforcement tried to stop them from reporting the situation. Details explicit tactics of brutality employed by cops against the demonstrators.
Vietnam War Teach-In I Vietnam War Teach-In I
Date: 10/1967Call Number: CE 909Volume Number: Reel 1Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
A comprehensive recording of speakers for and against Stop The Draft Week at San Francisco State (?). The recording also briefly discusses the death of Che Guevara and the actual debate of focusing simply on stopping the draft is expanded to discuss the ethics of the Vietnam War and the imperial design of the United States as a whole.