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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 We are also in the process of scanning and uploading thousands of historical documents which enrich our media holdings.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

Oakland 7 Arraignment Statement [mp3] Oakland 7 Arraignment Statement [mp3]
Call Number: Format: mp3Collection: Oakland Induction Center
Arraignment Statement from the Oakland Seven case stemming from arrests at the Oakland Induction Center anti-war protest.
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.
Joan Baez in Court December 20, 1967 Joan Baez in Court December 20, 1967
Date: 12/20/1967Call Number: CE 923Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Contains a brief interview with Joan Baez discussing both her strategy of civil disobedience as well as her reasons for standing against war.
Oct 16 Demo Oakland Induction Center Reel 2 Oct 16 Demo Oakland Induction Center Reel 2
Date: 10/16/1967Call Number: CE 904Volume Number: Reel 2Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Outlines the series of events connected to both demonstrators and the sit-ins they staged in front of the Oakland Induction Center in order to stop the registering of Vietnam War draftees. Also includes narrative pertaining to both police brutality and the targeted arrests of protesters.
November 30th UC Berkeley Unrest November 30th UC Berkeley Unrest
Date: 11/30/1966Call Number: CE 898Format: variesProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Vietnam Navy Table Protest Documentary; Professor AM Lunden and Gonzalez-Rubio; Newsmen find themselves under police scrutiny at student press conference.
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.
Arraignment of the Oakland 7 Arraignment of the Oakland 7
Date: 2/23/1968Call Number: CE 937Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Includes an interview with Oakland 7 spokesman Rhees Ehrlich and attorney Benjamin Dreyfus. Discusses not only the systemic backlash felt by the 7 individuals and the harshness of their experience but a multitude of different protest strategies as well.
Coral Seas Protest Dub Coral Seas Protest Dub
Date: 11/29/1971Call Number: CE 932Volume Number: Reel 1Format: 1/4 7 1/2 ipsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Two 8-minute documentaries on the rebellion by three officers and men enlisted on the aircraft carrier, USS Corral Sea, against further service in the air war in Indochina (Coral Sea was due to sail for Vietnam Nov. 12th) 1) On the development of the anti-war movement in the US Armed Services leading to the present action and 2) On the bombings and why they are quitting. Followed by a demonstration and added commentary.
Oakland Induction Center Reel 1 Master Oakland Induction Center Reel 1 Master
Date: 10/20/1967Call Number: CE 916Volume Number: Reel 1Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Reel is in poor condition.
Oakland Induction Center Dec 18 1967 Oakland Induction Center Dec 18 1967
Date: 12/18/1967Call Number: CE 921Format: 1/4 3 3/4 ipsProducers: Colin EdwardsCollection: Oakland Induction Center
Colin Edwards street reporting on the pacifist protest at the Oakland Induction Center. Details the events of the day, on the spot interviews and police actions against the protesters.